Hailey Van Lith led TCU to the second round of March Madness – and her beaming father struggled to contain his emotions when discussing his daughter’s collegiate career
Hailey Van Lith led TCU past Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (
Image: AP)
Hailey Van Lith’s father Corey fought back tears while discussing the college basketball career of his daughter after TCU advanced to the second round of March Madness.
On Selection Sunday last week, TCU was awarded a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. On Friday, Van Lith scored 13 points and added 7 assists and 4 rebounds to lead TCU to a 73-51 victory over No. 15 Fairleigh Dickinson in their first-round showdown.
Van Lith has endured a remarkable journey across her college basketball career. She established herself as one of the best players in the game at Louisville before opting to transfer and hone her craft under head coach Kim Mulkey at LSU alongside the likes of Angel Reese and Flau’jae Johnson.
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However, she struggled to adapt to the playmaking role bestowed upon her. In Baton Rouge, Van Lith averaged just 11.6 points per game on 37.8 percent shooting.
She helped LSU enter the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 31-6 record. But Van Lith faced immense criticism and was benched by Mulkey in the second round before she struggled to keep up with Clark in the exit to Iowa. After the brutal exit, she decided to leave LSU.
Van Lith has rediscovered her best form at TCU. She secured the Big 12 Player of the Year award after averaging 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Earlier this week, Van Lith was named a Third Team All-American – the fourth time she has earned All-American honors. As the 23-year-old looks to embark on a March Madness run, her father Corey outlined his pride in an emotional interview with WFAA.
Proud dad We spoke to Hailey Van Lith’s father talk about her journey as she enters the #MarchMadness tournament for the last timehttps://t.co/XsScvDcgpT pic.twitter.com/NIzDcvbSHA
— WFAA (@wfaa) March 21, 2025
“Yeah you know, it’s hard… it’s hard to put into words but she’s taken our family on a journey that’s lasted a long time and she’s very determined and very tough,” Corey said of his daughter while fighting back tears. “That’s what I’m proud the most of.
“She’s withstood a lot of stuff, a lot of people try to push her down and she doesn’t allow it and she’s stood her ground. Incredibly proud.”
Van Lith is enjoying a stellar run of form with TCU in her fifth year of eligibility. Her performances may even see her secure an earlier selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft. TCU is next in action against either No. 10 Nebraska or Van Lith’s former team, No. 7 Louisville, in the second round on Sunday, March 23.
