Hailey Van Lith, the talented and charismatic WNBA shooter, is facing a wave of criticism from fans after her actions were deemed “disrespectful” to Caitlin Clark – the brightest star in women’s basketball right now. And what makes things even “hotter” is that Van Lith has just reunited with Angel Reese on the Chicago Sky team, creating a controversial but unforgettable trio.

It all started when Hailey Van Lith played for Louisville in the NCAA, where she had a heated confrontation with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. During a game in 2023, Van Lith was caught on camera making provocative comments to Clark right on the court – and although she has denied having any personal grudge, the audience still remembers that moment. Clark’s fans saw this as an act of “arrogance” and “disdain for the talent of the opponent” – especially when Clark continued to set records and break all limits in the WNBA after that.

Recently, when Van Lith reunited with Angel Reese – who faced Clark in the 2023 NCAA finals and is famous for her controversial “wave face” – all eyes were on the relationship between these three female stars.

As soon as the news of Van Lith joining the same team with Reese was announced, social networks immediately went into an uproar. An old video was dug up showing Van Lith once answering an interview with the implication that **”some players are only flattered by the media for their image”**, which many people believed was referring to Caitlin Clark. Soon after, Clark continued to “overwhelm” the entire league with his three-point shots from midcourt, his ability to control the game like a real conductor, and his huge TV ratings and million-dollar contract with Nike.

The contrast between Van Lith’s “criticism” and Clark’s brilliant performance led the public to call it “instant regret.” Some fans even commented directly on Van Lith’s account: **“You may not like Clark, but don’t forget she’s the reason the whole world watches the WNBA every week.”**

The addition of Hailey Van Lith and Angel Reese – two former teammates at LSU – to the Chicago Sky roster opens a new chapter for the team, but also raises questions about its internal structure and direction. Reese, who has never been afraid to speak her mind, has repeatedly sided with Van Lith in interviews, saying that **“we don’t have to be like anyone else to be successful”** – a reference to the media pressure to compare them to Clark.

However, with Caitlin Clark still at the center of every discussion, from ESPN to TikTok, the Van Lith – Reese duo are working hard to prove that they are more than just “supporting roles” in Clark’s legendary story.

Van Lith reuniting with Angel Reese on a roster that also includes the tall and promising Kamilla Cardoso is creating a lot of expectations and pressure for the Chicago Sky. They are seen as potential factors that can create a big surprise in the new season, but that will only happen if these three big names can integrate, put aside their egos, and play as a unified unit.

For Van Lith, this is a chance to redeem herself – but it’s also a fine line between being the “misunderstood heroine” or “Caitlin Clark storm buster” and being swept away by its greatness.

While Caitlin Clark continues to sweep the league and elevate the league, Hailey Van Lith is struggling to prove that her previous words were not wrong. And if she doesn’t want to continue being called out in terms like “instant regret” or “failed because of arrogance,” perhaps Van Lith needs to let her talent and maturity speak for herself instead of her words.