The final buzzer sounded—85-70. Hailey Van Lith had just led TCU past Louisville, the program she once called home. As the moment sank in, everything flashed before her—not just the wins and losses, but the battles no one saw. “It was all a really good fit for me,” Van Lith said of her transfer from Kim Mulkey’s LSU to TCU in 2024. The fit was undeniable—TCU went 33-3, won its first Big 12 title since 1997, and she was named Most Outstanding Player.
But for Van Lith, the toughest battles weren’t on the court. Before she could play free, she had to fight just to stay here.
According to a post on X by Nick Grimonte, “Hailey Van Lith talks about her mental health struggles throughout her college career, and how this year has been such a blessing for her.
Really powerful message worth watching from the TCU guard.”
Hailey Van Lith talks about her mental health struggles throughout her college career, and how this year has been such a blessing for her.
Really powerful message worth watching from the TCU guard pic.twitter.com/AzNU4oLPQw
— Nick Girimonte (@GirimonteNicky) March 24, 2025
The message came alongside a clip of Van Lith opening up about a battle far more daunting than any opponent she had faced on the court.
“The day that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things,” she admitted. “When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal, I was heavily medicated, and I felt trapped. And you would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court, but internally and in life in general, I was ready to be done. And so that’s what I mean when I speak on suffering and pain.”
It was a shocking revelation from someone whose career had been marked by highlight reels and accolades. Van Lith was a five-star recruit, ranked 7th in ESPN’s draft class of 2020, the top combo guard in her class, and a high school standout at Cashmere High in Washington. She had dominated from the start, scoring 14 points in her varsity debut and leading her team to a 26-1 record as a freshman. By her junior year, she was averaging 34.4 points per game and had guided her team to a third-place finish at the state tournament.
But none of that success shielded her from the weight of expectation, the pressure of public scrutiny, or the darkness she silently endured.
“It’s like I didn’t even want to live,” Van Lith continued. “So to come from that to this is incredible. And I have—I’ve been praying all year, like, ‘God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light.’”
Faith has been a constant in Van Lith’s journey, much like Caoch Dawn Staley and fellow star Paige Bueckers. She has never been shy about her beliefs, and her X bio reads “1 Peter 5:6“—a verse that states, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
This season, it seemed like that time had come. The Horned Frogs finished the 2024-25 regular season undefeated at home and secured both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in program history. And Van Lith, the Most Outstanding Player of the conference, was at the heart of it all.
“And I think that this is the year, and this is the moment that He wants people to know my story,” she said. “How He’s just taken me literally from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life.”
Even as the accolades poured in, Van Lith made it clear—this was bigger than basketball.
“Even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people,” she said. “That’s really my story with God, and He’s so powerful. That’s what I mean when I say that He’s delivered me from literally the worst suffering ever.”
And as fate would have it, her journey came full circle on March 24. Standing between her and a trip to the Elite Eight? Louisville—the program where it all began.
Van Lith responded with a double-double—16 points, 10 assists—and led TCU to an 85-70 victory. The win wasn’t just about advancing in the tournament. It was a testament to her faith in God.
For Hailey Van Lith, the greatest triumph of all wasn’t on the scoreboard. It was choosing to keep going when everything told her to stop. However, the trial of her Faith is yet to end as she will soon have to face the dynamic trio of Olivia Miles, Hannah Hidalgo, and Soniah Citron— one of the most lethal backcourts in the country. And stopping them will be a battle of will, strategy, and sheer defensive grit.
Van Lith vs. Notre Dame’s Big Three—Who Bends First?
If the Horned Frogs have one undeniable edge, it’s their havoc-wreaking defense. They don’t just stop opponents; they dismantle them, averaging 13.5 steals per game—Notre Dame, by comparison, has just 2.0 (According to nytimes.com). That defensive chaos fuels TCU’s offense, and if they can turn turnovers into fast breaks, they could control the pace from the start.
credit:https://gofrogs.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/hailey-van-lith/16493
But Notre Dame thrives in structure. Their defense isn’t built on pressure, but on precision, holding opponents to just 54.5 points per game. Their size and discipline could be the perfect antidote to TCU’s aggressive approach, making early control of the tempo crucial.
The battle on the boards could swing momentum. TCU has been the stronger rebounding team, averaging 36.5 per game compared to Notre Dame’s 31.0. If the Horned Frogs dominate the glass, they’ll limit second-chance opportunities and fuel their transition game—both critical in a high-stakes matchup.
Both teams are also elite at protecting the rim, each averaging 6.0 blocks per game in the postseason. With points in the paint likely hard to come by, expect a game where perimeter shooting and crisp ball movement could be the difference.
Momentum favors TCU. The Horned Frogs are riding a five-game win streak, including a hard-fought victory over Louisville. Notre Dame, while dominant in their last two tournament games, showed vulnerability in their ACC Tournament loss to Duke.
The question now: Will TCU’s pressure break Notre Dame’s composure, or will the Irish’s discipline and star power crack the Horned Frogs’ defense? The answer will decide who marches on.
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