Hailey Van Lith (11) and forward Angel Reese (10) both clap during a video tribute video viewing on Senior Night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday, March 3, 2023. Photo:
Peter G. Forest/Sipa via AP Images
Angel Reese is ready to reunite with her former LSU teammate Hailey Van Lith.
After Van Lith, 23, was selected by the Chicago Sky with the 11th pick in the WNBA Draft on April 14, her former Tigers teammate Reese, 22, reacted to the news on social media.
In a post on X, Reese, who was selected at No. 7 by the Sky in the 2024 Draft, shared a graphic announcing Van Lith’s selection and wrote: “We ain’t do it right the first time. Let’s run it backkkkk,”
Basketball fans expected Van Lith and Reese to thrive together at LSU, but the Tigers’ 2024 season ended in disappointment when they lost to Caitlin Clark‘s Iowa in the Elite Eight. The Washington state native then entered the transfer portal and joined TCU, leading them to a Big 12 championship before the team lost to Texas in the Elite Eight.
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray, who was selected 11th overall in 2014, recognized Van Lith’s talent and posted, “Don’t sleep on an 11th pick,” after the guard’s selection. Reese shared Gray’s post and wrote, “oh we won’t Cap. thank yaaaa.”
Hailey Van Lith arrives prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft. Cindy Ord/Getty
Van Lith and Reese have remained in touch over the past year, the former told reporters at the draft.
Lith said Reese “has maintained contact with me this whole past year since she’s been in the league and I transferred” and said she’s “excited to get to be around her again,” per a video shared by Marquee Sports Network on X.
“I really appreciate her,” Van Lith continued. “We have a very mature relationship. A mutual relationship where we both have respect for each other’s game and also the character and the person we are off the court.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Van Lith said she shares “a lot of similarities” with Reese.
“She turns up the intensity of everybody around her,” Van Lith said. “I’m excited to be in that environment with her again where she can pull more out of me than I think I have.”
After she was drafted, Van Lith was spotted sharing a sweet kiss with her boyfriend, NBA player Jalen Suggs. The two, who have been rumored to be dating since 2021, embraced and shared a kiss.
