Move over scoring charts; Hailey Van Lith just rewrote her own narrative. The TCU Horned Frogs star unleashed a dazzling double-double performance on Sunday night, leaving the Schollmaier Arena and Angel Reese’s Twitter feed ablaze. Dropping 18 points and 10 assists in a gritty 79-76 victory over the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Van Lith added a fresh page to her basketball memoir.
Here’s the kicker: it’s her first-ever collegiate double-double. Yes, the former LSU Tiger and Louisville Cardinal who built her brand on getting buckets is now dishing dimes like a seasoned chef at a Michelin-star restaurant.
Even Reese, her ex-teammate and reigning social media queen, couldn’t resist tossing in her two cents. “HVL. That’s all ima say,” Reese tweeted. A translation for the uninitiated? That’s elite-level props from one baller to another.
HVL’s Game-Turner: A Double-Double Born in the Clutch
Van Lith’s pièce de résistance came in the dying seconds of the game. With the score knotted at 76, she coolly delivered an assist to teammate Taylor Bigsby, putting TCU ahead. Cue the drama: NC State’s Aziaha James launched a desperate game-tying three-pointer as time expired, only to hear the unforgiving clang of iron. Game over. Frogs win.
For Van Lith, the realization of her milestone was as emotional as it was surprising. “Did I get a double-double?” she reportedly asked, her voice quivering like a freshman on their first final exam. Upon confirmation, the tears threatened to flow. “Awww, I’m gonna cry,” she said, delivering a quote so wholesome it could be bottled and sold as comfort food.
TCU head coach Mark Campbell, meanwhile, had his proud-dad moment. “She’s a playmaker,” he said, highlighting Van Lith’s 19 assists over the past two games. “And now the world’s finally seeing it.”
From Scorer to Playmaker: HVL 2.0
For most of her career, Hailey Van Lith’s scouting report read like a Netflix synopsis: “Bucket-getting phenom with a flair for the dramatic.” But now? She’s out to prove she’s more than just a walking highlight reel.
“I’ve really enjoyed this process,” Van Lith told reporters, sounding more like a motivational speaker than a baller. “I’m transforming into a new player. Before, I was Hailey the scorer. Now, I’m Hailey the playmaker.”
If this transformation sticks, TCU’s opponents might want to start drafting their apologies in advance.
Draft Day Buzz: Will HVL Go Pro?
Here’s where the plot thickens: Van Lith is gearing up for her final college season and is eligible for the 2024 WNBA Draft. Tankathon’s latest mock draft predicts her landing with the Las Vegas Aces at No. 22. But there’s a catch — she’s not a natural point guard, and the Aces, still feeling the sting of forfeiting their first-round pick, might be rolling the dice.
If Van Lith can master the art of playmaking while keeping her scoring prowess intact, she could become a highly sought-after Swiss Army knife for any WNBA team. The scoring? That’s just the cherry on top of the sundae.
Final Word: Don’t Sleep on HVL
Hailey Van Lith is no longer just the queen of buckets; she’s the rising monarch of playmaking. From her first double-double to her transformation into an all-around threat, she’s making sure everyone from college basketball fans to WNBA scouts takes notice.
So, the next time she’s on the court, grab some popcorn. Who knows what masterpiece HVL 2.0 will create next?
