Hailey Van Lith and Caitlin Clark (Photos via USA Today and Twitter)
Chicago Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith is taking heat on social media over what she said about Caitlin Clark.

The 2025 WNBA Draft has now come and gone, and the professional basketball league now has a new crop of rookies ahead of the new season.

Last season was truly historic, as Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese ascended to staggering stardom due to their college rivalry.

Van Lith is already making waves with what she said about Clark this year.

The prospects in attendance for the 2025 WNBA Draft were asked to play ‘Start, Bench, Cut’ by USA Today Sports during the draft’s orange carpet.

The three players were Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu, and Clark. You had to choose one player to start on a hypothetical team, one to bench, and one to cut.

While some dodged the question, Van Lith had an answer ready.

“Oh my gosh,” Hailey Van Lith said. “Give flowers to the legend. We’re gonna start Diana Taurasi…I’m going to bench Sabrina (Ionescu) and cut Caitlin (Clark).”

lmao the draftees were asked on who they’d start/bench/cut between caitlin, sabrina, and DT. saniya rivers said she’s starting everybody and she’s sitting on the bench 😭 pic.twitter.com/BzVIKwlbq8

— cc akgae (@clrkszn) April 15, 2025

Even though her answer was innocent, many thought she was throwing shade at Clark.

“When will she learn,” one fan said.

When will she learn pic.twitter.com/lBO4xDSxGu

— ice mountain is better (@ballnokdee) April 15, 2025

“The disrespect for CC goes back to her freshman season at Iowa, where she led the NCAA in scoring, 2nd in assists, and averaged 6 rebounds, for good measure. And then was left off the list of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award,” a second fan stated.

The disrespect for CC goes back to her freshman season at Iowa, where she led the NCAA in scoring, 2nd in assists, and averaged 6 rebounds, for good measure. And then was left off the list of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award. https://t.co/22qTFoVQEw

— Gee Unit (@Gee_Unit123) April 15, 2025

“HLV dead to me 😭,” a third fan said of Hailey Van Lith.

HLV dead to me 😭

— Vincent venn Diagram (@SojournerTruthe) April 15, 2025

One final fan added: ‘Welp. Haley is gonna have to shrug her shoulders a few times this season after playing Indy.”

Welp. Haley is gonna have to shrug her shoulders a few times this season after playing Indy

— Sam (@samadams____) April 15, 2025

Hailey Van Lith Lost To Caitlin Clark Before

Hailey Van Lith (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
The Chicago Sky selected Hailey Van Lith in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

When the new Chicago Sky guard takes the court in her first WNBA game this May, it’ll be against an all-too-familiar foe in Caitlin Clark.

Van Lith will team up with Angel Reese to face Clark for the first time since they were both eliminated by her in 2024.

Clark’s Hawkeyes knocked out Van Lith’s teams twice in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, beating Louisville in 2023 and LSU a year later.

The pros should be fun.