Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese isn’t just shining on the court—she’s making waves off it, too. This time, it’s a digital shoutout to her former LSU teammate Hailey Van Lith, whose clutch performance against Notre Dame had fans buzzing louder than a vuvuzela in overtime.
Van Lith, now donning TCU Horned Frogs purple, unleashed her inner Mamba to guide her team to a 76-68 victory. The 5’7″ dynamo didn’t just show up; she showed out, dropping 21 points on an 8-for-15 shooting clinic. If that wasn’t enough, she dished out seven assists and grabbed three rebounds, leaving Notre Dame wishing they had a double-dose of Advil post-game.
Not to be outdone, TCU’s resident skyscraper, Sedona Prince, delivered a masterclass in domination. She casually snagged 20 boards, swatted eight shots, and added three steals, proving she’s the defensive wall your coach dreams about at night. Oh, and she chipped in 20 points, because why not?
Meanwhile, Madison Conner decided to sprinkle some extra spice into the mix, posting 18 points, six rebounds, and hitting free throws like it’s a layup line. Her 3-for-9 performance from deep wasn’t Steph Curry-level, but hey, it was clutch enough to get the job done.
Angel Reese wasn’t about to let this epic performance fly under the radar. She took to X (formerly Twitter, but who even calls it that anymore?) to pen a poetic tribute to her former partner-in-crime: “HVL.” No emojis, no drama—just three letters that screamed, “I see you, girl.”
Van Lith’s season stats are a chef’s kiss: 19.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. Yet, in a league where scouts are harder to impress than Simon Cowell at karaoke night, she’s somehow still pegged as a late second-round pick. According to Tankathon, the Connecticut Sun might nab her with their 25th pick. If true, the Sun’s GM should be bronzed for that steal.
Angel Reese Talks Rivalries and Haters
Angel Reese didn’t stop at hyping her former teammate. During a Complex Conversations event, she reflected on her infamous rivalry with Caitlin Clark. The two were college basketball’s version of Ali vs. Frazier, with enough on-court tension to power a reality TV series.
“It’s just competition,” Reese said. “I’ve been battling Caitlin since we were like, what, eighth or ninth grade? Whether it’s AAU or the NCAA championship, we always seem to find each other. Social media loves to turn us into some sort of basketball soap opera, but I think it’s great for women’s hoops.”
Reese has embraced the love-hate dynamic, admitting that the chatter fuels her fire. “Sure, I get hate,” she added. “But if it’s growing women’s basketball, I’ll take it. Call me the villain if you want—I’m still getting buckets.”
Clark and Reese’s rivalry hit new heights in their WNBA rookie season. The 2024 Rookie of the Year race? Razor-thin. Clark took the trophy home, but Reese made sure it wasn’t unanimous. One voter dared to dissent. Plot twist: Reese isn’t sorry.
As the WNBA and women’s college basketball continue to level up, one thing’s for sure: Hailey Van Lith, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and their contemporaries are rewriting the script—and we’re all lucky enough to watch it unfold.
So, here’s to more buzzer-beaters, Twitter flexes, and rivalries that keep the game alive. Because in women’s hoops, the drama’s real, the talent’s unmatched, and the tea is always piping hot.
