Hailey Van Lith Set to Face Former Team Louisville in High-Stakes March Madness Showdown
In a captivating storyline that exemplifies the increasingly interconnected world of college basketball, Hailey Van Lith and her TCU Horned Frogs are poised to clash with her former team, the Louisville Cardinals, in a highly anticipated Round of 32 matchup in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The game, set to take place on Sunday, carries significant weight, with a coveted Sweet 16 appearance hanging in the balance for both programs.
Van Lith, a standout guard who spent her first three collegiate seasons at Louisville, is now a key figure for the No. 2 seed Horned Frogs. Following TCU’s dominant 73-51 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round, Van Lith remained in the stands to personally scout her former team, Louisville, as they battled Nebraska. The Cardinals emerged victorious with a 63-58 win, setting the stage for the intriguing showdown.
While the impending reunion might be expected to stir up emotions, both Van Lith and Louisville head coach Jeff Walz, who mentored her for three years, have downplayed the significance of the matchup. Van Lith has characterized it as "just another game," emphasizing her focus on the present and her commitment to her current team.
"Obviously, it was a part of my journey," Van Lith stated, reflecting on her time at Louisville. "I’ve evolved past that part of who I was there, but there are still people there that I love, and so I wish them well. You know, it is what it is."
Coach Walz echoed Van Lith’s sentiment, stating that facing his former player is "no big deal." He acknowledged Van Lith’s contributions to the Cardinals’ success during her tenure, highlighting the team’s accomplishments during that period.
"We won a lot of games," Walz said. "We had really good basketball teams. (Van Lith) was a big part of it. She had a great career. She graduated college in three years, which nobody really talks about, and they should… She did that in three years and decided to make a move, which is great. Everybody does it. It’s no big deal."
Van Lith’s journey to TCU has been marked by both success and challenges. After her stellar career at Louisville, which included two Elite Eight appearances (2021, 2023) and a Final Four run (2022), she transferred to LSU, the reigning national champions, in April 2023. However, her time with the Tigers did not unfold as anticipated.
Van Lith experienced a dip in her scoring output and shooting efficiency at LSU, averaging a career-low 37.8% from the field and 11.6 points per game, a significant drop from her 19.7-point average in her final season at Louisville. Her performance drew scrutiny, with some questioning her ability to translate her game to the professional level.
Instead of declaring for the 2024 WNBA draft, Van Lith opted to utilize her final year of eligibility and transferred to TCU, where she has experienced a remarkable resurgence. She was named Big 12 Player of the Year, averaging 17.9 points per game and shooting a career-high 45.9% from the field.
Van Lith’s arrival has been instrumental in TCU’s historic season, as she has led the Horned Frogs to their first regular season title, first conference tournament title, and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. The team’s No. 2 seed is the highest in program history, underscoring the transformative impact she has had.
As Van Lith prepares to face her former team, she remains focused on the task at hand and confident in her team’s abilities. "At the end of the day, I’m just excited to play another game, whoever that may be. I’m up for the challenge," she said. "Whatever is going to happen is going to happen, and I’m just going to go out there and try to be the same girl that I’ve always been. I have a team that loves me. I have a team that has my back. So I’m in a great environment to feel supported."
Van Lith credits her seamless transition to TCU to the strong chemistry she has developed with her teammates, including All-Big 12 First Team center Sedona Prince, who had an outstanding performance in the first-round victory. The connection between Van Lith and her teammates is evident on the court, as exemplified by her record-breaking assist total this season.
"A lot of people may think I’m crazy… but I always knew what was coming for this team. I expected this type of outcome," Van Lith said. "You just look at who we have as a staff, personnel on paper, and then you combine that with what happened when we all met each other and the chemistry that came from that immediately."
She added, "Basketball is great and all, but I’m enjoying every day that I get to practice with these girls. Like when we had our team dinner last night, all those little moments. I know this is the end for me. I’m not coming back to college. So really just enjoying all that with them."
TCU head coach Mark Campbell echoed Van Lith’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s cohesion as their "secret sauce." He acknowledged the challenges of fostering such a strong bond in the current era of player transfers.
"It is incredibly hard in the portal era to get a group of young college athletes — I don’t care what sport it is — to truly love each other and play for each other and find joy in each other’s success," Campbell said.
TCU boasts an impressive 20-0 record at home this season and enters Sunday’s matchup on an eleven-game winning streak. With a victory over Louisville, Van Lith and TCU would achieve another program first, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time in history.
"We’re hard to kill at home. We’re undefeated. I’ll take that percentage," Van Lith said confidently.
The upcoming game presents a compelling narrative on multiple fronts. It is a reunion between a star player and her former coach and teammates, a testament to the evolving landscape of college athletics, and an opportunity for both teams to achieve significant milestones in their respective seasons. Beyond the individual storylines, the game represents the high stakes and intense competition that define March Madness. The desire to advance, to prove their worth, and to etch their names in the annals of college basketball history fuels both teams as they prepare to take the court. The Horned Frogs, riding a wave of momentum and fueled by Van Lith’s leadership, will aim to leverage their home-court advantage and continue their historic run. The Cardinals, steeped in tradition and determined to prove their mettle, will look to spoil the party and advance to the Sweet 16.
As the clock ticks down to tip-off, the anticipation builds. Whether it’s just another game, or a pivotal moment in both programs’ histories, the matchup between TCU and Louisville promises to be a memorable chapter in this year’s NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.
