Draft night was already destined to be special for Hailey Van Lith, but the 23-year-old made sure the celebration became even more memorable – sharing a heartfelt kiss with her NBA star boyfriend Jalen Suggs after hearing her name called.
Van Lith, a standout guard who played her final college season at LSU alongside Angel Reese, was selected with the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Sky during the 2025 WNBA Draft on April 14.
After embracing her parents and receiving her Sky jersey from WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, Van Lith shared a touching moment with Suggs that quickly caught the attention of fans online.
A Public Display of Love After Years of Quiet Romance
Although Van Lith and Suggs – a guard for the Orlando Magic – have kept their relationship relatively private since being linked in 2021, their draft night kiss was captured in a viral video shared by Yahoo Sports on social media.
The clip shows Suggs clapping proudly as Van Lith walks toward him before the couple embraced and kissed – a rare public show of affection for the duo who usually keep things low-key.
This wasn’t the first time the couple made headlines recently. Speaking to PEOPLE on the orange carpet at the WNBA Draft, Van Lith acknowledged Suggs as her boyfriend and addressed their families’ viral moment during the March Madness tournament.
During TCU’s second-round win over Notre Dame, a clip of Suggs and Van Lith’s father, Corey Van Lith, passionately celebrating went viral. Hailey admitted the moment left her both amused and slightly embarrassed.
“No, I love it, it’s totally their personalities and I’m so glad that the world gets to see their joy and passion,” Van Lith said.
She jokingly added that she sometimes gets “embarrassed daughter vibes” from her dad but wouldn’t change a thing. “I’m going to let him do him for sure.”
Reunion with Angel Reese Sets Stage for Sky’s Future
Van Lith‘s move to Chicago means she’ll reunite with Angel Reese, forming a duo that lit up LSU during the 2023-24 season.
The Sky are hoping that the combination of their college chemistry and young star power can help them rise in the WNBA standings.
For Van Lith, her draft night was the perfect blend of professional achievement and personal joy – a celebration of family, love, and a future full of promise in Chicago.
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