The newest Death Star in women’s college basketball just got stronger. And it didn’t just add a new laser beam or a couple of Tie Fighters. In sticking with these Star Wars references – look, forgive me, May 4 is next week – this is like Darth Vader linking up with Grand Admiral Thrawn.
Hailey Van Lith is transferring to LSU – the reigning national champions who return the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese and two other key contributors in rapper-slash-guard Flau’jae Johnson and Kateri Poole.
Like Reese, Van Lith has two years of eligibility left, tons of sass, swagger and coolness, and a skillset that’s among the best in the sport. At Louisville, she a three-time All-ACC selection and was an All-American honorable mention this past season. She played in a Final Four as a sophomore, and led the Cardinals to the Elite Eight as a freshman and junior. Van Lith and Iowa’s Caitlin Clark were the only two Power 5 players this season to average at least 19 points, four rebounds and three assists per game.
And now, she’s going to be playing with Reese, one of the game’s best rebounders who also happened to averaged 23 points per game as she powered LSU to its first national championship this year.
a new queen is coming to the boot👑 @haileyvanlith pic.twitter.com/RuQEWYQfys
— Haleigh Bryant (@haleighbryant3) April 27, 2023
Kim Mulkey might not be done with the transfer portal. But in the meantime, here’s what her Tigers landing Van Lith means.