The LSU Tigers have plenty of work to do if they want to return to the summit of college women’s basketball. Kim Mulkey understands that more than anyone as she and her team faced harsh criticisms from analysts and fans thourghout the 2023-24 campaign.
They will be in for a tough 2024-25 season as their star player has moved on to join the pros. However, life is going to get tougher for the Tigers as one of their most reliable players is looking for a bigger role by submitting her hame in the transfer portal.
Kim Mulkey reacts to Hailey Van Lith leaving the LSU Tigers
One of the most shocking storylines to come out of the LSU Tigers this offseason is Hailey Van Lith’s decision to put her name in the transfer portal.
Once a terrific player who showed out during her final year in Louisville, Van Lith failed to establish herself in Mulkey’s program and decided to start fresh with another program in the hopes of boosting her draft stock.
It was a tough decision, but it was one Mulkey fully supported. The veteran coach understands Van Lith’s aspirations and wishes her the best for her future.
Per The Spun’s Andrew Holleran:
“Her aspirations were to get drafted this year,” Mulkey said at a team banquet earlier this week, according to NOLA.com. “And she realized, ‘I need another year and I need to go back to a place where I can relax and get back to my normal position. And what do you do? You hug her, and you wish her well.”
She finished her lone season with the Tigers with a decent stat line of 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.3 steals over 33 starts.
Where will Hailey Van Lith end up after her LSU stint?
It won’t be hard to Van Lith to find a program that will turn her into their first option. The guard showcased during her stint with the Tigers that she can produce despite having to make do with a limited role.
The most noticeable difference between her past two years with Louisville and her stint with the Tigers is the number of shots she took. She was the primary shot creator during her final year with the Cardinals, averaging 16.8 shots per game. She had to take a backseat role with the Tigers as she had to settle for 9.9 attempts a game.
She could return to Louisville and try to rebuild her WNBA draft stock there. There are also other programs in need of a terrific point guard who can lead offensively and defensively.
Regardless of where she ends up, whichever program ends up getting her will acquire a talented athlete who can score and operate an offense.
More must-reads: