The TCU women’s basketball team hasn’t played in the NCAA Tournament since the 2009-10 season, and of the program’s nine appearances in the big dance, the Horned Frogs have never advanced to the Sweet 16.
That could all change in 2024-25. With the addition of star transfer Hailey Van Lith to the roster in April, this TCU team is 26-3 overall, ranked No. 10 in the country, and tied with No. 19 Baylor atop the Big 12 Conference.
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The Horned Frogs’ 26 wins on the season are a program record, a mark they set at home on Sunday in a 71-50 trouncing of No. 17 West Virginia. Van Lith poured in 26 points (8-of-12 shooting), grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists in the win.
The winningest team in TCU history 🙌@tcuwbb's 26 wins sets the single-season program win record.#NCAAWBB pic.twitter.com/LOY7kQ6RAS
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 23, 2025
Hailey Van Lith was a force this afternoon
26 Points
6 Rebounds
4 AssistsHVL Highlights vs. West Virginia⬇️#Big12WBB | @tcuwbb pic.twitter.com/BdJe8dmmeD
— Big 12 Studios (@big12studios) February 23, 2025
Van Lith has averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and a career-high 5.5 assists per game in TCU’s 29 contests so far this season. She’s shooting 44.9% from the field, also a career best. A fifth-year senior, Van Lith’s veteran presence on the floor and in the locker room has proven to be a tremendous asset for the Horned Frogs.
The Wenatchee, Washington, native committed to Louisville out of high school and played her first three seasons with the Cardinals — including a trip to the 2022 Final Four — before transferring to the reigning national champion LSU Tigers in April 2023. LSU began the 2023-24 season ranked No. 1 but fell to Iowa in the Elite Eight, and Van Lith entered the transfer portal again.
Throughout her college basketball journey, she’s shared about her faith journey as well. In the lead-up to her single season with LSU, Van Lith experienced what she recognized as her “greatest success in life.” She underwent the sacrament of baptism, a sign and seal of Christ’s work in her life to wash away her sins and give her new life in Him.
“Best day of my life,” she posted in the first of a series of five photos from the baptism on her Instagram story in August 2023. In the last photo she wrote, “My greatest success in life is to offer my life to serve Jesus.”
Van Lith has been known to share about her faith in Christ both in interviews and on social media. Her Instagram and X bios both reference the Bible verse 1 Peter 5:6, which says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” She also often wears a cross necklace.
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After an NCAA Tournament loss with Louisville in 2023, a year in which she was named an honorable mention All-American, Van Lith was asked by reporters what keeps her motivated.
“I’ll be completely honest — I’m not motivated by external factors,” she said. “I’m motivated by myself and I always have been. If we would’ve won the national championship this year, I would’ve had the same amount of motivation in me, and that’s just who I am.
“I’m not motivated at all by the fact that they named me honorable mention. I know who I am and I know what God thinks I am. God doesn’t think I’m an honorable mention, I’ll tell you that right now. I don’t need external motivation. I’m internally motivated.”
After graduating from Louisville in May 2023, Van Lith posted on social media, “This moment is to glorify God in all of His goodness. He is the one true love.”
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Last summer, Van Lith had the opportunity to go to the 2024 Paris Olympics as a member of the U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball team. The Americans captured the bronze medal, Van Lith was the team’s leading scorer, and she thanked God afterward.
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Two games remain on the Horned Frogs’ regular-season schedule as Van Lith and her TCU teammates ready themselves for what they hope is a deep postseason run — a home matchup with Houston (5-22) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, and a road showdown on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET with in-state rival Baylor (24-5). First place in the Big 12 is likely to be on the line.
This is Van Lith’s final year of eligibility. The 2025 WNBA Draft is set for April 14.
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