GOOD NEWS: Iowa women’s finally sign Hailey Van Lith for $85 Million’s today… See More…
to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in Monday night’s Elite Eight matchup, Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey still had plenty to be thankful for. The two-time WBCA National Coach of the Year singled out one of her star players in particular, gushing over both her skill and character.
Senior guard Hailey Van Lith was a heavy talking point during Mulkey’s postgame presser. While the fourth-year veteran has an extra year of eligibility remaining due to COVID, she hasn’t announced a decision on her intentions next season. Regardless, Mulkey made sure to give her her flowers while she could still smell them.
Hailey Van Lith came to Louisville after being an abundant shooter,” Mulkey remarked, via Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic. “Shot it a lot at Louisville, had great success…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 that big a piece to their puzzle.”
Indeed, Van Lith was the focal point of the Cardinals’ offense. With the Tigers being a heavily stacked roster, she transitioned to being more of a supporting piece. The 22-year-old hoisted just 9.9 shots a game this season after averaging 16.8 in her junior campaigShe has embraced learning a new position, taking less shots,” Mulkey continued. “Forever indebted to Hailey and her unselfish play to come to LSU to play with a lot of great players and learn a new position.
