“I’m really standing on God’s shoulders right now, you guys,” Hailey Van Lith said after the Horned Frog’s upset over 3-seed Notre Dame. It was not long until last year when Van Lith’s defensive woes became an instant meme. However, this season was a full redemption for her, silencing any haters who dared to doubt her. Stacking up gritty performances, she earned multiple Big 12 honors, a Big 12 championship, and, of course, a date with the Elite Eight.
Van Lith broke the TCU single-season scoring record and became the first player in NCAA history to take three different programs to the Elite Eight. Dubbed “Miss March” by head coach Mark Campbell, she has propelled TCU to its historic run. But how did she get here? Why did Van Lith leave two top-level programs before TCU became her home? let’s look at her journey.
The Louisville Chapter: Foundation of a Star
Before making waves at TCU, Hailey Van Lith built her reputation at Louisville. She was there for three seasons (2020-2023), where she became one of the best-scoring guards in women’s college basketball. Van Lith helped lead the Cardinals to the Final Four during her sophomore year in 2021-22. Similar success followed in the following years as the guard made it to the Elite Eight in her remaining seasons.
During her time at Louisville, Van Lith averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game across 101 games, shooting 42.0% from the field and 33.0% from three-point range. Her junior year (2022-23) was her peak, with 19.7 points per game, earning her First-Team All-ACC honors for the second consecutive season and an All-American honorable mention. She was the heartbeat of a Cardinals team that reached the Elite Eight three times. However, even with success, something was missing.
Van Lith surprisingly entered the transfer portal after the 2022-23 season. That choice was deeply personal, she told Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks in an interview. “It came down to my ability to be happy, and I had to put myself first, I had done my part, and I had sacrificed myself and given my all to that program. But at the end of the day, I just I wasn’t enjoying everyday life. It was a situation there where I chose that I deserve happiness.”
After entering the transfer portal, she was the most sought-after player in the country. Ultimately, she picked LSU, the reigning national champs, to play along with star Angel Reese and be coached by Kim Mulkey. It was a big draw to be able to join a winning team and learn from one of the best in the game. “I think the culture of the team really drew me in. But then getting the chance to play for one of the best point guards ever in coach Mulkey and learn from her is something that’s really valuable to me,” Van Lith said at the time.
Jul 30, 2024; Paris, France; United States player Hailey van Lith (9) reacts against Germany in the women’s pool basketball 3×3 game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at La Concorde 1. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
But it did not work out as planned. The biggest hurdle came from a shift in Van Lith’s role. Her style of playing changed completely as she moved from a shooting guard to a point guard. At Louisville, she averaged 19.7 points per game; at LSU, it was 11.6. But for someone of her ability, the change in role didn’t suit her strengths, and it quickly became apparent that her fit inside the LSU system wasn’t right.
Van Lith’s struggles were on display in the 2024 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight against Iowa, where Van Lith was tasked with guarding Caitlin Clark, who went off for 41 points and ended LSU’s defense of their national title. Van Lith’s image of her shrugging after Clark hit her 37th point became a meme. “Caitlin is very skilled, she’s a great player. She hit some tough shots,” Van Lith later said. “There’s not a whole lot you can do about some of the shots she was hitting.”
The loss on April 1, 2024, was a turning point, exposing her limitations at point guard, where quickness and lateral movement are critical. She entered the transfer portal on April 4, 2024, just 48 hours after LSU’s season ended, forgoing a WNBA Draft declaration (deadline April 3 for Elite Eight participants), signaling she’d already contemplated her next step.
While she admired Clark’s skill, Van Lith also knew she wasn’t thriving in LSU’s system. She reflected on the season and said, “Coach Mulkey’s vision for a one was different than the one that I am. Just to be realistic. The style of play that I play as does not fit the one that she needs for her system.” She realized that her time at LSU was going to be short.
Hailey Van Lith’s Path to Redemption
Van Lith returned to the portal just days after LSU’s tournament exit. This time, it was TCU head coach Mark Campbell who called her. When he was an assistant at Oregon, Campbell had recruited Van Lith, and now he saw a chance to bring her to TCU. And the decision by Van Lith to join the Horned Frogs ended up being a game-changer for both her and the program.
What’s more interesting about Van Lith is that she has an incredible postseason record. She has a 25-8 all-time record in postseason games and has delivered when it counts. In her run to lead TCU to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, she’s primed for a redemption story of sorts, one that should culminate with an MVP award if she is so fortunate.
Hailey Van Lith’s journey from Louisville to TCU is an amazing reminder that talent is not everything, and sometimes you have to listen to your gut and take the path that will make you happy. She has shown that, despite setbacks and struggles along the way, it is possible to turn adversity into triumph. Her story will undoubtedly inspire other athletes to stay true to themselves and to fight to be great, no matter the obstacles in their path.
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