Sky's Hailey Van Lith Credits Sparks' Kelsey Plum's For Career Impact
Hailey Van Lith first met Kelsey Plum while in middle school. The pair kept a close relationship through their respective basketball careers — reuniting to compete alongside one another at Plum's inaugural Under Armour-sponsered "Dawg Class" camp in 2023.
Read more: Sparks' Rickea Jackson Reveals Close Relationship With WNBA Player
On Sunday, Chicago's Van Lith and Los Angeles' Plum reunited once more — this time on a professional stage, to play against one another in a head-to-head WNBA matchup.
Prior to the Sky's road test against the Sparks at Crypto.com Arena, Van Lith spoke honestly about Plum's tangible impact on her basketball journey — sharing praise for a longtime friend and mentor while revisiting past bonds formed during the memorable "Dawg Class" camp.
“I had a great time, it was super fun to compete and see one of the best guards in our game work … and see her process.”
— Ben Geffner (@BenGeffner) June 30, 2025
— Hailey Van Lith on playing in Kelsey Plum’s inaugural @UAbasketball ‘Dawg Class’ camp and Plum’s impact on her basketball career. pic.twitter.com/hG5Ul772J9
“The camp was a great experience. I'm super grateful for [Plum] to think to invite me. I had a great time, it was super fun to compete and see one of the best guards in our game work … and see her process," Van Lith said. “Having that example and knowing [that] a guard her size that looks like me ... can make a way in the league.
Read more: Sparks' Kelsey Plum Bashes WNBA Refs in Wild Postgame Interview
"I’ve known Kelsey a while now, ever since middle school ... She called me and asked [to participate in the camp]," she continued. "It’s not everyday that Kelsey Plum calls you. It was a pretty cool moment and I was super stoked to go.”
CLASS IS IN SESSION 📚 The energy was up for day 1 of Kelsey Plum Dawg Class powered by UA Next 🦴 pic.twitter.com/mbOVSvXwT3
— Under Armour Basketball (@UAbasketball) April 20, 2024
This year marked the third edition of the now-annual Dawg Class, originally created by Plum in 2023.
Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink Shares Unique Approach to Injury Recovery
“The impact that we’ve already made in terms of the growth that these women have [experienced] in just a short amount of time is really cool to see,” Plum told NBC Sports' On Her Turf in 2023. "I’m really proud to be a part of it, and this is beyond my expectations.
“This is a baby step to a bigger vision, but I think that when you have something, you’ve got to share it. It’s like paying it forward ... if I can figure out a way to do that for them — or at least put them in touch with someone that can do that for them — that to me is purposeful," she continued.
More Sparks news:
A'ja Wilson Speaks Out on Losing Kelsey Plum to Sparks
Sparks' Kelsey Plum Reacts to Georgia Amoore's ACL Injury
International Legend Reveals Reason For Rejoining LA
Sparks Waive Two Players Ahead of 2025 Season
Sparks’ Cameron Brink Revisits Feeling After Tearing ACL
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Sparks, visit Los Angeles Sparks on SI.
Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.
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