Since Hailey Van Lith has already carved out a storied career for herself, the upcoming matchup might feel a bit awkward for her. She was a star at Louisville, leading the Cardinals to two Elite Eights and a Final Four across three seasons. Now, she’s a star at TCU, named the 2024-25 Big 12 Player of the Year and guiding the Horned Frogs to their first-ever conference titles. She doesn’t need this game to prove anything—but if TCU falls to No. 7 seed Louisville, the narrative will shift, and the critics will pounce. Van Lith knows this all too well and hence, she might have to roll along with it.
On Sunday, March 23, 2025, the TCU Horned Frogs’ star guard will face off against her former team, the Louisville Cardinals, in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. For Louisville, the challenge will not come easy as they will be facing TCU on their home court. This advantage is also coupled with the fact that the Horned Frogs have been a dominant force all season, boasting an impressive 31-3 record. Their success earned them a No. 2 seed in the 3 Region. But, as already discussed, beyond just the stakes of the tournament, this matchup carries an extra layer of intrigue.
Hailey’s journey to this point has been anything but linear. From 2020 to 2023, she was the heartbeat of Louisville’s program, averaging 11.2 points and 5.2 rebounds and also earning ACC All-Freshman honors. By her junior year, she was a first-team All-ACC selection, averaging 19.7 points per game and propelling the Cardinals to the Elite Eight in 2023.
“We won a lot of games,” Louisville head coach Jeff Walz said of her time with the team, as reported by USA Today. “She was a big part of it. She had a great career. She graduated college in three years, which nobody really talks about, and they should.” However, after that Elite Eight loss to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Van Lith shockingly entered the transfer portal, landing at LSU for the 2023-24 season. At the same time, key teammates also left the team, and questions about the team’s future arose. We should note here though, that for her, it wasn’t just about finding a better team but about finding the best version of herself.
Mar 22, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith (11) shoots a free throw against the Rice Owls during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Her time at LSU was a mixed bag. Playing under Kim Mulkey, Van Lith’s scoring dipped to 11.6 points per game, her lowest in college, and her shooting efficiency fell to a career-low 37.8%. According to many, the final straw came in the 2024 Elite Eight, when Clark scored 41 points against LSU, leaving Van Lith—who was often tasked with guarding her, already pretty uncommon for her—visibly frustrated.
The Next correct described, “The video of Van Lith shrugging her shoulders as Clark backpedaled down the court will live on as one of the most memorable moments of March Madness”. Critics then began to question her status as a pro, and her draft stock took a hit. Worse? Van Lith was benched for stretches of that game, fueling speculation that she wasn’t the right fit for LSU’s system. Then, instead of returning for another season in Baton Rouge, she took yet another leap by transferring to TCU for her final year of eligibility.
Many questioned the move. Why go to TCU, a program that hadn’t been a major national contender? But Van Lith saw an opportunity to be the focal point of an offense again. And this time, she thrived. At TCU, she rediscovered her scoring touch, averaging 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting a career-best 45.9% from the field.
The Horned Frogs finished the 2024-25 regular season going 19-0 at home and securing both the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles—the first in program history. “Hailey is one of those kids that changes your whole program in every area,” TCU coach Mark Campbell said of his star performer. “She has no chill. She goes. She is the ultimate competitor.” Her impact was indeed undeniable: TCU earned its highest-ever NCAA Tournament seed and its first appearance since 2010. On March 21, 2025, she broke the program’s single-season assist record with her 185th of the campaign.
So, it’s fair to say that the once-doubted star has officially re-established herself. But one last test remains: an NCAA championship title. And to pass that, she needs to swipe Louisville. For her, the stakes are personal yet universal. And fans know that well, so they didn’t waste a minute before jumping into the comment section.
Hailey Van Lith vs. Louisville: the ultimate revenge game or just another step toward glory?
As expected, fans were eager to see the long-awaited revenge game unfold. “Love the scriptwriters giving us HVL vs. Louisville,” one fan wrote on X, perfectly capturing the excitement surrounding this matchup. And honestly, they’re not wrong. For the first time since 2005, TCU and Louisville will go head-to-head, but this time, the storyline goes beyond just another tournament game. This is about Hailey Van Lith facing her former team—a moment that feels like it was made for the big stage.
“Yessssss we getting the HVL/Louisville matchup, Lord I thank you,” another fan posted, echoing the widespread anticipation. Historically, TCU and Louisville have split their all-time series 2-2, with each team protecting home court in their matchups. But this time, the stakes are different.
Also, analytically, this game is a toss-up. TCU has an obvious edge, but Louisville’s fast tempo, and pressure defense- considering how they forced 24 turnovers against Nebraska- could disrupt Van Lith’s rhythm. ESPN’s matchup predictor gave TCU a 99% chance to beat FDU and Louisville a 56.5% chance to top Nebraska before the tournament began. Now, with both teams advancing, it could be anyone’s game. Van Lith’s pick-and-roll mastery, honed with Team USA’s 3×3 bronze-medal squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics, pairs perfectly with TCU’s Sedona Prince, but Louisville’s depth, 11 players saw action against Nebraska, could wear TCU down.
“Yeah, ‘cause of HVL. Boy, I miss her. Was my fave player here. Now she about to go crazy. No one we have can guard her,” another fan chimed in. The anticipation is undeniable, but for Van Lith, the focus isn’t on past relationships or emotions—it’s on the game itself. When ESPN’s Holly Rowe asked her to describe the upcoming showdown with one of three words—fun, spicy, or loving—Van Lith didn’t take the bait.
Instead, she kept her response locked in on the competition. “I think that I’m excited to play a first-round game at home, and you know, after that, the thing about me is I’m going to play,” she said. “It could be a 16 seed, it could be a one-seed, and I’m gonna bring the same energy and the same passion and be the same type of player. So no matter who it is on the other side, you’re going to get the same Hailey.”
It was a message loud and clear—this isn’t about personal revenge. This is about winning, about pushing TCU deeper into the tournament, about proving she belongs at the top of the college basketball world. Fans might want to paint this as a dramatic showdown between Van Lith and Louisville, but for her, it’s just another step toward a championship.
“HVL probably rubbing her hands like Birdman rn,” joked another fan, while someone else added, “I should’ve known the scriptwriters were trying to cook up an HVL revenge game.” And if Van Lith and the Horned Frogs keep winning, the storylines will only grow. A potential championship matchup against LSU—the very team she transferred from after just one season—could still be on the horizon.
“HVL vs. Louisville… who got @HitTapiaLives writing the script?” another fan quipped. No matter how the bracket unfolds, one thing is for sure—Van Lith isn’t here to just face her old teams. She’s here to make a deep tournament run. So can she lead TCU towards their first NCAA championship title?
The post NCAA Script Too Good for Hailey Van Lith as Fans Await Long-Awaited Revenge Game appeared first on EssentiallySports.
