A starter point guard for LSU women’s basketball, transferred to TCU, meaning the team is now without her. After losing their top scorer and rebounder, Hailey Van Lith, and their leading assist producer, Angel Reese, the LSU Tigers will need to add some players of the highest level.
Van Lith was considered one of the best transfers in the nation, so acquiring her after a championship was a huge coup. In addition to averaging 11.6 points, Van Lith also had 3.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals a game.
Although Hailey Van Lith never lived up to everyone’s expectations, she also received undeserved criticism because of Kim Mulkey’s ineffective defensive strategy for preventing Caitlin Clark. Both sides weren’t a good fit, and it was tough to adjust to playing point guard in Kim Mulkey’s attack.
Regarding Van Lith’s choice to transfer, Kim Mulkey stated as follows: “Her goal was to get drafted this year, but she came to the realization that I need another year, and that I need to return to a place where I can rest and return to my regular position. Additionally, what do you do? Giving her a hug and sending her best wishes.”
Despite losing Hailey Van Lith and Angel Reese this off-season, the LSU women’s basketball team will be OK. Kim Mulkey is already chasing a number of elite transfers, including Lucy Olsen, Ruby Whitehorn, and North Carolina transfer Deja Kelly.
It will be challenging to rebuild completely because Mulkey only signed Lafayette Christian Academy standout point guard Jada Richard from the 2024 recruiting class. The next few weeks will be crucial as Mulkey pursues a few of the top transfers in the country in an effort to regain championship form.