The vibes in Chicago? Immaculate. Sky fans had every reason to celebrate after the 2025 WNBA Draft. And why not? They landed one of the most electrifying talents to come out of college basketball this year–Hailey Van Lith. Pairing her up with Angel Reese, her former LSU teammate? Yeah, that’s got everyone talking. But hold on. Amid all the excitement, there’s a bit of a storm brewing. Some tough news is heading the Sky’s way! One that perhaps could have been avoided?

Last year, the Chicago Sky made headlines with their big-time announcement–a $38 million training facility in Bedford Park. A game-changer. “It’s not shared. This is ours,” said co-owner and operating chair Nadia Rawlinson. The plan was to get it completed by October 2025. But now, it seems those plans have hit a bump in the road.

According to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, the Sky’s brand-new training facility in Bedford Park won’t be ready as planned. The completion has now been pushed back into 2026. Reese & Co. are going to have to wait a little more to enjoy the luxuries.

This upcoming training facility isn’t just a standalone project–it’s part of a much larger vision. Built in partnership with the village of Bedford Park, it’s all part of phase two of the Wintrust Sports Complex expansion. And it’s not just about basketball, there’s more. This phase also brings two turf fields, a hotel, a gas station, and a couple of new restaurants to the area.

Some fans expressed concern after hearing the Sky were “having trouble” securing a loan. But it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. The truth? Changes to the facility plans have shifted the construction timeline and cost estimates. Until those updated details are locked in, the Sky won’t apply for a loan. That’s why the village and team came to an agreement for a revised payment plan.

While the delayed training facility is a concern for Sky fans, there’s another potential worry brewing. It’s one that involves both Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith. The last time these two played together, things didn’t go as planned. Will history repeat itself this time around? Is HVL even happy to play with Reese after what happened at LSU? Well, she has had her say!

The Bayou Barbie and HVL only spent one season together at LSU. They helped lead the Tigers to a solid 31-6 record and a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, Van Lith had trouble fitting into the already stacked LSU squad. She couldn’t replicate her Louisville form, where she was averaging nearly 20 points per game. And being benched during the second round of the Big Dance added to her frustrations. Fans’ backlash after her performance against Iowa did not help either.

But Hailey, in her introductory press conference after getting picked in the draft, was pretty pumped up at the prospect of reuniting with Angel Reese. She couldn’t hide her excitement when talking about the Chicago Sky star. Here’s what she had to say about her former LSU teammate:

via Imago

“The WNBA provides a lot of spacing and we have a very unique roster,” Van Lith said. “Any time I can play in space with talented bigs around me is when I’m able to do my job best. That will be more impactful than when we played together at LSU.” And she also confirmed that Angel Reese is already giving out sisterly advice. Her message to HVL? “to be in shape.”

The thought of Hailey Van Lith teaming up with two dominant bigs like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso has the fanbase absolutely buzzing! It’s a shame that these players will have to wait another year to practice at their new state-of-the-art training facilities, but the duo is ready to run it back.