WNBA Rookie Hailey Van Lith Debuts in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

Hailey Van Lith, a standout rookie for the Chicago Sky and former college basketball star at Louisville, LSU, and TCU, is making her debut in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue just days before her WNBA debut. Van Lith, who was the Big 12 Player of the Year and a third-team All-American, was photographed in a Chicago Sky-colored bikini by Taylor Ballantyne in Fort Worth, Texas. Her impressive collegiate career includes setting single-season records for TCU and leading her teams to multiple Elite Eight appearances. The 2025 SI Swimsuit Issue also features other athletes making their debut, such as Olympic heptathlete Anna Hall and former Colorado soccer star Phoenix Dawn Miranda, highlighting a trend of accomplished female athletes crossing into modeling. Hall, who overcame significant injuries to compete in the Paris Olympics, hopes her journey inspires others as she sets her sights on the 2028 L.A. Games. The issue, released May 13, celebrates the athletic achievements and versatility of these women both on and off the field.