Rare pic of WNBA rookie Hailey Van Lith rocking bikini bod for new ‘SI’ swim issue
Hailey Van Lith, a rookie in the WNBA, has captured attention with her appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, modeling a bikini in Chicago Sky colors. Previously, she made headlines at the WNBA Draft with a sparkly mini-dress, and was drafted by the Chicago Sky. Van Lith has an impressive basketball career, having led her college team to the Elite Eight and earning accolades such as Big 12 Player of the Year. She will debut professionally against the Indiana Fever and play her first home game at Wintrust Arena against the New York Liberty. The photoshoot was conducted in Fort Worth, Texas, where she attended Texas Christian University for graduate studies before going professional.
Context:
Hailey Van Lith, a rookie in the WNBA, has captured attention with her appearance in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, modeling a bikini in Chicago Sky colors. Previously, she made headlines at the WNBA Draft with a sparkly mini-dress, and was drafted by the Chicago Sky. Van Lith has an impressive basketball career, having led her college team to the Elite Eight and earning accolades such as Big 12 Player of the Year. She will debut professionally against the Indiana Fever and play her first home game at Wintrust Arena against the New York Liberty. The photoshoot was conducted in Fort Worth, Texas, where she attended Texas Christian University for graduate studies before going professional.
Dive Deeper:
Hailey Van Lith turned heads at the WNBA Draft in a sparkly black mini-dress, shortly before being drafted by the Chicago Sky, marking the start of her professional basketball career.
In the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, Van Lith models a bikini in white and sky-blue, reflecting the official colors of her team, the Chicago Sky, with the shoot captured by photographer Taylor Ballantyne.
Van Lith's basketball journey includes playing for the University of Louisville and Louisiana State University, where she formed a friendship with Angel Reese, now her teammate at the Chicago Sky.
During her college career, she helped her team reach the Elite Eight in the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournament and was honored as the Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Tournament MVP for the 2024-25 season.
Making her professional debut against the Indiana Fever, Van Lith is set to play her first home game at Wintrust Arena against the New York Liberty, marking significant milestones in her budding career.
Basketball star Hailey Van Lith turned heads when she hit April’s WNBA Draft in a sparkly black mini-dress and flawless makeup. Now she’s leveled up again, swapping out her Chicago Sky uniform — she was drafted that fateful night — for a bikini.
HVL, as the star rookie is known, absolutely sizzles in the newest issue of the iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, out on Saturday, May 17.
For her big photo shoot, Van Lith, 23 models a matching striped bikini in white and sky-blue, one of the official Chicago Sky colors. Her blonde hair is styled in beachy waves, and she sports a flawless natural-looking makeup look. According to an article published by SI on Tuesday, May 13, the famous photographer Taylor Ballantyne captured the look in Fort Worth, Texas — where Van Lith attended Texas Christian University for graduate studies before going pro.
- Van Lith, who’s originally from Washington State, also played for University of Louisville and Louisiana State University — where she befriended Angel Reese, who is now her teammate at the Chicago Sky. As a Horned Frog, she led her team to the Elite Eight during the 2025 NCAA March Madness tournament. She was also the Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Tournament MVP for the 2024-25 season.
Taylor Ballantyne/Sports Illustrated
The star guard was selected 11th overall during the 2025 WNBA Draft and has been hard at work with the Chicago Sky. She makes her professional debut against the Indiana Fever on Saturday, May 17 in Indianapolis. On Thursday, May 22 she will play in her new home arena — Wintrust Arena — for the first time against the New York Liberty.
Read More!
Rare photo of basketball star Hailey Van Lith dressed up in sparkly low-cut dress at WNBA draft
Sneak peek of limber Livvy Dunne in teeny bikinis for scorching ‘SI’ swim cover
Salma Hayek, 58, flaunts flawless figure in scorching bikini pics for new ‘SI’ swim issue cover