Hailey Van Lith had an intuition that TCU would be the final stop of her collegiate basketball journey. The dynamic point guard’s legacy is set to make an enduring impact at TCU, despite her brief one-year tenure, following the most successful season in the Horned Frogs’ history.
Boasting a 31-3 record, TCU shattered previous benchmarks for total wins as well as Big 12 victories, achieving an impressive 16 victories in the conference. Additionally, the Horned Frogs maintained an unblemished 19-0 record at home, where they are set to host NCAA Tournament first-and second-round games for the first time as a 2 seed. TCU is poised to kick off the tournament against Fairleigh Dickinson, who also boasts a 29-3 record. For the first time, the Horned Frogs celebrated victories in both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships, sealing their triumph against Baylor, a formidable opponent with 13 regular-season Big 12 titles and 11 tournament crowns. Notably, Baylor’s domination with a 37-game winning streak over 35 years against TCU was interrupted, as the Frogs bested them three times this season.
As part of the Horned Frogs’ renowned “Big Three,” Van Lith joins Sedona Prince and Madison Conner, although she is the only newcomer. Despite injuries plaguing Prince and Conner in their initial season, they acknowledge Van Lith’s pivotal role as the principal playmaker, lending a unique dynamic. “I think she brings a lot of just fight to our team,” shared Conner. “She’s a dog on and off the court,” referring to the vital tenacity Van Lith introduced, elevating team performance to unprecedented levels.
Van Lith’s journey to TCU traces back to her high school days when she came under the radar of TCU’s coach Mark Campbell, who was then an assistant at Oregon, while she was still in Washington state. Opting for Louisville initially, she spent three seasons there before transferring to LSU, joining them right after their national championship victory, which was held in Dallas, conveniently close to TCU in Fort Worth. Though Van Lith’s time at LSU concluded with an Elite Eight loss to Iowa, she kept herself busy trying for the U.S. Olympic 3-on-3 team. It was during this decisive phase of contemplating another transfer that her instincts led her to Campbell and TCU, a resolve she described as “divine intervention.”
Van Lith’s father, Corey, was first contacted by Campbell, mirroring how deeply family-rooted this decision process was. Once Van Lith connected with Campbell, she affirmed her burgeoning interest in TCU prior to their official communication. “Hailey is one of those kids that changes your whole program in every area,” enthused Campbell. “She is the ultimate competitor.”
TCU’s remarkable 9-0 inception this season included a defining victory against then-No. 3 Notre Dame, before facing a challenging 85-52 defeat to reigning national champs South Carolina near the TCU campus. The Horned Frogs suffered only two Big 12 defeats to Oklahoma State and Kansas State, and embarked on a 10-game win streak entering their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010. Van Lith, having contributed significantly, was crowned Big 12 tournament MVP after a decisive 64-59 win over Baylor.
Paired with Conner, Van Lith helped catapult TCU as a leading team in both accuracy and volume in 3-point shooting nationally. Her personal draw extended beyond her skills, engaging fans donning her jerseys and waving signs with her name, eagerly awaiting autographs post-games. “We needed a senior leader,” Prince reasoned, recognizing Van Lith’s multidimensional influence. “And she brings a lot of people into the stands, too.”
As Van Lith and Prince likely transition to professional careers in the WNBA shortly after the season, Conner too wraps up her college tenure. Therefore, Campbell anticipates seeking robust reinforcements via the transfer portal to sustain TCU’s competitive edge. However, such future concerns remain secondary as the Horned Frogs’ current focus is on maintaining their perfect home record, potentially leading them to their first Sweet 16 journey.
Campbell expressed immense gratitude for their time with Van Lith, “I’d give my left arm to have another ride and do it again,” he mused fervently “But we’re going to max this out. We’ve got a lot of basketball still ahead of us.”
