Hailey Van Lith, who spent a year with the LSU Tigers after transferring from Louisville, is now entering the transfer portal, as reported by 247Sports. This move comes as she still has one more year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, this announcement aligns with LSU player Angel Reese’s decision not to utilize her extra year of eligibility and instead declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Van Lith originally played as a shooting guard at Louisville but transitioned into more of a point guard role upon joining LSU, aiming to enhance her skills for the WNBA. LSU coach Kim Mulkey praised Van Lith for her willingness to leave her comfort zone at Louisville and make this transition, emphasizing her significant contribution to the team despite challenges.
During her time with LSU, Van Lith maintained an average of 11.6 points per game and led the team with 118 assists. Although LSU didn’t secure another national title, they reached the Elite Eight before being defeated by the Iowa Hawkeyes, where Van Lith’s defense of Caitlin Clark received criticism.
Prior to LSU, Van Lith played three seasons at Louisville under Jeff Walz, achieving notable success, including leading her team to the 2022 Final Four as a sophomore and the Elite Eight in the following season.
Her junior year at Louisville saw impressive stats, averaging 19.7 points per game along with significant contributions across rebounds, assists, and steals, earning her First Team All-ACC selections in 2022 and 2023.
