The Chicago Sky may be one step closer to finding their point guard of the future.
While it will take her some time before she is able to earn a starting role, Hailey Van Lith may have the tools she needs to be one of the Sky's future captains. Even if their games might be different, the 23-year-old guard may still be able to learn a thing or two from a returning Sky legend in Courtney Vandersloot. The 12-year Sky veteran said she wanted to help Van Lith find how to become a point guard in the WNBA just as she had to learn 14 years earlier as a higher draft selection out of Gonzaga.
"I think, sometimes, she's been a little bit off the ball," Vandersloot said, via Winsidr Sports Journalist C. C Dunham. "Point guard's maybe not as natural for her, at least in terms of distributing or running a club.
"She can score the ball, make the right pass, but just the little nuances in terms of spacing, timing, when to give it up, when not to, how to impact the game without the ball always in your hands."
Wasting no time working with the best
Vandersloot, a seven-time assist champ and 5-time All-WNBA selection, will be an incredible resource for Van Lith to fall back on.
The long-time veteran was around for both of the Sky's trips to the WNBA Finals, including when they finally made it to the top of the league's landscape in 2021. Her incredible eye and basketball IQ have shaped her into one of the best passers the league has ever seen. Vandersloot is second all-time in the WNBA in total assists. She only trails a Women's Basketball Hall-of-Famer in Sue Bird on the league's standings.
Thankfully, the former TCU star isn't taking her time with Vandersloot for granted.
"She probably thought I was stalking her," Van Lith said on Monday, via GNSportsTV. "I was staring at her all practice like, 'What are you doing right now?' 'What read are you making?'"
Van Lith will be a key part in the Sky's development for the future, especially if Vandersloot can teach her a thing or two about running the point. Should Vandersloot continue to coach Van Lith up throughout training camp, the youthful guard could be just the guard pairing the Sky need to pair up with Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the near future.