Hailey Van Lith’s college career has been a whirlwind. From her early days in her Louisville career when she helped lead the Cardinals to the 2022 Final Four to her subsequent stops with LSU and TCU, Van Lith has established herself time and again to be a fearless competitor and elite scorer. Her final year of college basketball at TCU was the culmination of it all. Winning Big 12 Player of the Year, guiding her team to its first ever Big 12 regular season and tournament title. Also, she became the first NCAA player to make the Elite Eight with three different teams—TCU, LSU and Louisville.
The 5-foot-9 guard now averages 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. With the WNBA Draft now 7 days away on April 14, who will land the fiery guard? Here are five teams the Wenatchee, Washington native could fit in seamlessly with.
1. Los Angeles Sparks: The Sparks have the ninth overall pick. And they are in desperate need of dynamic guards to shake up their backcourt. With veteran leadership and scorers like Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum, Van Lith can pitch in as a scorer and playmaker. Her offensive imagination and leadership would mesh well with young stars like Cameron Brink. With her on the team, they can build a powerhouse squad that can ship off championships in the future.
2. Indiana Fever: The Fever have Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston as their core but could use more guards. Hailey Van Lith’s defense, playmaking, and tenacity would make her a great addition to the team. She’d be an outstanding backup or a trade chip. Whatever the case may be, Van Lith is, most importantly, a competitor at heart. She fits well within the Fever’s new trajectory and would be an interesting option for the future.
Oct 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; TCU Horned Frogs guard Hailey Van Lith (10) talks to media during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
3. Phoenix Mercury: With ace players like Diana Taurasi retiring, the Mercury will need fresh faces in their backcourt to continue their dynasty. Hailey Van Lith provides exactly that with her youthful flare, scoring ability and floor vision. Execution in crunch-time would be crucial for a team finding a turning point into the new era. Pairing her with Finals MVP Kahleah Copper could be what Phoenix needs to get back in the mix.
4. Minnesota Lynx: The Lynx want to strengthen their guard rotation to support Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride following last year’s gut-wrenching 62-67 Finals loss to Liberty. Van Lith’s defensive tenacity and high-energy playing style make her an ideal candidate to flourish under Cheryl Reeve. The 11th overall pick can be a steal for Minnesota as a versatile player and headstrong leader on a team with no shortage of star power.
5. Seattle Storm: Washington native Hailey Van Lith has a chance to be a hometown star for the Seattle Storm. Van Lith is a seamless plug-and-play scorer and competitor to the culture of excellence they’ve created. Her addition would inject life into the fanbase and add depth they need as the Storm try to improve.
Hailey Van Lith’s skillset, leadership, and competitive spirit make her one of the most interesting prospects in this year’s WNBA Draft. Whether Van Lith ends up with one of these teams or winds up shocking everyone and going much higher than expected, her journey from NCAA sensation to WNBA star is just getting started—and it looks like it could be every bit as exciting as her collegiate career was.
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