Hailey Van Lith returns to Connecticut Sun deal

Hailey Van Lith signed a developmental contract with the Connecticut Sun on May 30, after being waived by the team earlier this week to activate Leïla Lacan. Her brief stint produced 8.1 points per game and a standout performance against the Las Vegas Aces.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Hailey Van Lith’s second run with the Connecticut Sun ended in sharp, quick turns—until it didn’t. On Saturday, May 30, the team confirmed she signed a developmental contract, calling it a new chapter after the roster shuffle that had cut her loose just days earlier.

The Sun did not release contract details, citing team policy. Still, the timing reads like a response to a specific moment in the team’s season planning. Van Lith had signed with Connecticut after being waived by the Chicago Sky, only to be cut Thursday when the Sun activated guard Leïla Lacan.

Lacan had been on a suspended contract due to overseas commitments. She returned to start Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. Her path back included a title run in France: Lacan won the 2026 championship with Basket Landes and was named Finals MVP after her run in the French La Boulangère Wonderligue.

Van Lith’s time with the Sun was short but not empty. She played nine games, starting three. Across 17.6 minutes per game, she averaged 8.1 points while shooting 49.2% from the field, adding 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds. Her most productive game came May 15 against the Las Vegas Aces. when she finished with 17 points on 63.6% shooting and four assists.

Before Connecticut, Van Lith’s early professional path had already been shaped by movement. She spent her rookie season with the Chicago Sky, appearing in 29 games and averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. During the Sky’s preseason slate this year. she averaged 12.5 points on 71.4% shooting and recorded 4.5 assists across two games before being waived.

Her basketball route has also been marked by transition at multiple levels. Van Lith started her college career at Louisville. then transferred to LSU to play point guard for head coach Kim Mulkey. She later moved to TCU for her fifth year. Through her college career, she averaged 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.

The Sun’s decision to cut Van Lith after activating Lacan—and then bring Van Lith back on a developmental deal—creates a clear tension in how the roster is being managed: the team can make room for an established return on one day. while still keeping a door open for a player who produced meaningful numbers in a limited window the next.

Hailey Van Lith Connecticut Sun WNBA developmental contract Leïla Lacan Chicago Sky roster move A'ja Wilson Basket Landes La Boulangère Wonderligue