If 2024 was about drafting the face of the Chicago Sky, 2025 was about building the team. This year, the franchise brought in four rookies, each bringing something different to the table. Hailey Van Lith might’ve gotten the loudest cheers, but it looks like everyone in this rookie class is already vibing with the new fam. Before the grand welcome at Willis Tower, what really stuck with Maddy Westbeld was something simple: belief.
A sense that Sky believed in her back when conversations were just beginning with Jeff Pagliocca and Tyler Marsh. And you know, that kind of trust hits different because the jump from college to pro isn’t just about speed or size , it’s about the mental shift. When your new team makes it clear that they see you, that they’re betting on you, that confidence becomes armor. Maddy, fresh off her Notre Dame run, entered draft last week. She played five seasons at Notre Dame, stacking up honors.
In her intro presser, she summed up her journey with one word — resilience. “I feel like I had 5 different seasons in this past season alone. For me, resilience and consistency. The mentality that I have coming in every single day,” she said. And then she set the record straight and said something that had us all nodding: “I left ND in a better place than I found it and I take pride in that.” Now that’s how you walk out with your head held high.
Because not to forget, when she arrived in 2020, the program was in flux. Muffet McGraw, the legendary coach had just stepped down. ND wasn’t the powerhouse it had been. But slowly, with players like Westbeld showing up and showing out, the Irish found their groove again. Maddy came in as a five-star recruit and didn’t waste any time.
Westbeld: “Resilience comes to mind. I feel like I had 5 different seasons in this past season alone. For me, resilience and consistency. The mentality that I have coming in every single day…I left ND in a better place than I found it and I take pride in that.”
— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) April 17, 2025
She was the ACC Rookie of the Year, recorded seventh-most rebounds (940) and 13th-most points (1,710) in Notre Dame history. Even a foot surgery couldn’t keep her down. She came back averaging 7.6 points and 2.8 boards in her final season. With her and more impactful players, the Irish regained that edge.
Now that ND has lost Olivia Miles to the portal and sent Westbeld, Sonia Citron, and Liatu King to the WNBA, it’s a whole new chapter for Ivey and Co. Hidalgo may be the future, but today, it’s all about celebrating these women who carried the torch. So here she is. The No. 16 pick is ready to start her pro journey with the same toughness that defined her college years.
“Being able to bring my physicality and embrace that. That’s what’s going to translate the best to this league,” she said, making her intentions clear. At 6’3″, Westbeld made a living battling in the paint, cleaning the glass, and protecting the rim. Now, in a league that features some of the most athletic and skilled players, her experience battling in the post and defending versatile forwards will be invaluable.
Her size, her hustle will complement Sky’s frontcourt. It’s a perfect fit alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. And not just her, Sky did pick all the right pieces in the Draft.
Chicago Sky playoff bound?
On Monday night, the draft day, Sky front office was grinning. For the first hour, general manager Jeff Pagliocca and head coach Tyler Marsh watched as two of their top prospects somehow slipped through the cracks. When picks 10 and 11 rolled around, they pounced — Ajša Sivka from Slovenia and Hailey Van Lith from TCU.
“We were surprised that Sivka was there and we were surprised Hailey was there,” Pagliocca admitted. “We’re sitting in a really good place right now.” The fan reaction was a bit mixed. Sivka didn’t get wild cheers and it’s understandable. Fans are not much familiar as she skipped college ball and went straight from Slovenia to the big league.
But don’t sleep on her. She’s 6’4″, can shoot from the perimeter, create her own shot, and even led Slovenia to a FIBA U18 European Championship. Pagliocca summed it up, “She’s been able to have a lot of success at playing against grown women.” The Sky are playing the long game with her.
Then came the moment fans were waiting for, HVL at No. 11. The crowd was loud. She turned her narrative around with a killer season at TCU, dragging the Horned Frogs all the way to their first Elite Eight. It’s hard to imagine a better fit. With veterans like Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins around, and young stars like Reese and Cardoso, Van Lith gets to grow with a squad that’s finally starting to look… playoff-worthy.
Chicago, USA, June 23, 2024: Angel Reese 5 Chicago Sky claps her hands during the game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever on Sunday June 23, 2024 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago, USA. NO COMMERCIAL USAGE Shaina Benhiyoun/SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xShainaxBenhiyoun/SPPx spp-en-ShBe-8P6A9064
And it didn’t stop there. At No. 16, the Sky scooped up Westbeld, a dependable four. Then at No. 22, Texas A&M’s Aicha Coulibaly joined the mix. She’s not a shooter like the others, but her rebounding is legit. Unfortunately, she’s dealing with a season-ending knee injury, so we’ll have to wait and see on that front.
Still, the competition is going to be fierce. Only two roster spots are available, meaning these rookies are about to enter camp ready to scrap for contracts. But, all in all, the Sky isn’t building from scratch anymore. In 2024, they found their franchise duo. In 2025, they filled in the gaps with talent, depth, and potential. Now, on paper, this team looks like playoffs bound.
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