LSU’s Hailey Van Lith enters transfer portal in another blow to the Tigers

Hailey Van Lith entered the transfer portal in another blow for LSU, just one day after her now-former teammate Angel Reese declared for the WNBA draft.

The 22-year-old guard, who debuted with the Lady Tigers in November after transferring from Louisville, where she played for three seasons from 2020 to last year, saw her averages drop to 19.7 points, 3.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds. her final season with the Cardinals to 11.6 points, 3.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds in her final 12 months at LSU.

What’s more, on Monday, Caitlin Clark, the NCAA’s all-time leading women’s scorer, had 41 points and 12 assists in Iowa’s 94-87 victory in the Elite Eight of the March Madness tournament, while Van Lith He defended her throughout the game. game.

Van Lith initially joined LSU, the reigning national champion, in April of last year. She was attracted to the school’s support of the women’s basketball team and the team’s intensity, and she had a relationship with head coach Kim Mulkey since high school.

“I hope it’s not her last game, but if it is, I’m proud to have been her coach for a year,” Mulkey said of Van Lith after the Lady Tigers lost in Albany earlier this week.

Hailey Van Lith, 22, entered the transfer portal just one year after leaving Louisville for LSU.

Van Lith’s decision comes three days after he defended Caitlin Clark, who had 41 points and 12 assists, in the Iowa-LSU Elite Eight matchup in the women’s NCAA tournament.

‘Hailey Van Lith came to LSU after being an excellent shooter. I shot it a lot in Louisville. She had great success. She was on good teams… For her to take that leap of faith and leave her comfort zone at Louisville, you don’t see many players do that when she was such an important piece of the puzzle for her. She has agreed to learn a new position and take fewer shots.

“I will always be indebted to Haley and her selfless play for coming to LSU to play with many great players and learn a new position.”

A return to Louisville emerged as a possibility for Van Lith before the transfer portal deadline on May 1.

Van Lith played three seasons at Louisville and could return just one year after leaving school.

Off the court, Van Lith is dating Orlando Magic guard and former Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs

South Carolina, Stanford, Washington State and Oregon State are other possible landing spots for the two-time first-team All-ACC player, according to USA Today.

UConn, Southern California, Miami and Ohio State have also been tipped to add Van Lith to their rosters. Sport News.

Off the court, Van Lith has a bachelor’s degree in finance from her time at Louisville.

She is also dating current Orlando Magic point guard and former Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs. The couple went public with their relationship last year.