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Chicago Sky Waives Van Lith, Signs Veteran Natasha Cloud

5/4/2026

Summary

Chicago Sky Signs Cloud

Chicago Sky waived guard Hailey Van Lith and signed veteran guard Natasha Cloud to a one-year, $555,000 contract.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca said the waiver reflected a coaching staff style-of-play preference.
Van Lith, the 11th pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29 games.
Cloud posted 10.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 41 games with the New York Liberty.

Summary

Chicago Sky Roster Shakeup

Chicago Sky exercised fourth-year options on Cardoso, Jackson and Sheldon and signed Diggins and Carrington before Saturday’s opener.
Injuries to veteran guards Courtney Vandersloot (ACL) and DiJonai Carrington (foot) left the Sky thin at guard entering 2026.
The Sky lost their preseason opener 108-104 to Phoenix Mercury on April 25 despite Van Lith’s perfect 8-for-8 shooting.
Chicago waived draftees Latasha Lattimore and Tonie Morgan and veterans Jordan Hobbs, Megan Nestor and Sidney Cooks during cuts.

Summary

Van Lith Bronze

Basketball player Hailey Van Lith earned an Olympic bronze medal with the U.S. 3x3 team at the 2024 Summer Games.
Van Lith also won two youth World Cup gold medals for the United States.
WNBA player Angel Reese’s trade to the Atlanta Dream includes a $1.6 million salary edge over Caitlin Clark.
The Dream posted a 30-14 record last season and are pursuing their first franchise championship.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA launched in 1997, with the Houston Comets winning the inaugural championship and establishing a flexible roster model led by Cynthia Cooper. A first collective bargaining agreement in 1999 and a 2014 CBA that expanded rosters to 12 players created the contract leeway the Chicago Sky now use, waiving Hailey Van Lith and signing Natasha Cloud.

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Chicago Sky Signs Cloud

Chicago Sky waived guard Hailey Van Lith and signed veteran guard Natasha Cloud to a one-year, $555,000 contract.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca said the waiver reflected a coaching staff style-of-play preference.
Van Lith, the 11th pick in the 2025 draft, averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29 games.
Cloud posted 10.1 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 41 games with the New York Liberty.

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