LSU guard Hailey Van Lith named to USA 3x3 World Cup Team

Hailey Van Lith‘s busy offseason got a little bit busier today, as the new LSU guard was named to the 2023 USA 3×3 World Cup Team on Thursday.

After three seasons at Louisville, Van Lith entered the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason and committed to the National Champion LSU Tigers in late April. Van Lith will now take her talents not only to The Bayou, but internationally this summer, as she will now be representing Team USA in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup from May 30 – June 4 in Vienna, Austria.

Last season for the Cardinals, Van Lith led the team in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals. She was a First Team All-ACC and ACC First Team All-Tournament selection for the second time in her career, also earning Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press.

Van Lith has plenty of Team USA experience under her belt entering the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup. She’s been competing on Team USA 3×3 teams since 2018 where she, South Carolina‘s Aliyah Boston, Virginia‘s Samantha Brunelle, and UConn‘s Paige Bueckers took home the USA Basketball 3×3 U18 National Championship, earning tournament MVP honors.

The following year she led Team USA to a gold medal finish at the 2019 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, scoring 36 points over seven games. She was a member of the 2021 USA 3×3 U23 Nations League Team before making her senior debut for the 2022 USA Basketball 3×3 World Cup Team last year, where she averaged 7.2 points through five games.

Van Lith has taken home three gold medals and three tournament title wins during her Team USA tenure, and will be looking to bring the team more success this summer in Austria.

Angel Reese reacts to LSU landing Hailey Van Lith

Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith, perhaps the best talent in the women’s portal, has committed to reigning champs LSU, linking up with returning superstar and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese. There’s really no other way to put it: the best team just added the best free agent. This is like Kevin Durant joining the Warriors, but in women’s college hoops.

Upon the announcement of Van Lith’s commitment, Reese chimed in to offer her reaction to the Tigers landing her a new star teammate

oh it’s UP.🤪 https://t.co/zw0Sp4SIx5

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 27, 2023

You simply won’t find a better one-two or inside-out punch in women’s college basketball next season. Van Lith struggled with turnovers and efficiency with the Cards this past season compared to others, but on a much more talented squad, she’ll be able to focus on taking better shots while developing into a true lead playmaker, which should excite WBNA scouts.

On3’s Alex Weber contributed to this report