Former LSU star Hailey Van Lith
College Women’s basketball star Hailey Van Lith has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal following a year with the LSU Tigers of the SEC. Van Lith spent her first three years of college eligibility with Louisville, before transferring to LSU for her senior season. Now entering her fifth year, here are five schools Hailey Van Lith should transfer to, and five she should stay away from.
Where should former LSU star Hailey Van Lith go next season?
Transfer to: Washington State
Hailey Van Lith grew up in Wenatchee, Washington, which is about a three-hour drive from the campus of Washington State University. The Cougars are losing many seniors at the end of the 2024 season due to injuries, eligibility running out, or transfers. The biggest loss is senior Guard Charlisse Leger-Walker, who has decided to hit the transfer portal as a fifth-year senior. This is a team that is in need of a star player, and who better than the girl that grew up watching WSU home games?
Stay away from: Louisville
This may seem like a no-brainer, but Haley Van Lith transferred out of Louisville to join LSU in 2023. She wouldn’t exactly be welcomed back with open arms should she decide to transfer back, however, she wouldn’t necessarily be rejected either. This would create a weird power dynamic within the team and would be easier for everyone if Van Lith simply ignored the idea of going back to Louisville.
Transfer to: South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is absolutely cooking. It is rare for a team to finish the regular season undefeated, but that is exactly what South Carolina did during the 2023-2024 NCAA season. This team has been firing on all cylinders all season, and it would be a great opportunity for Van Lith to join a program who is already projected to make a deep tournament run in 2025.
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Stay away from: Stanford
What a historic program in the Pac-12. Unfortunately, with the collapse of the conference, Stanford will be playing against competitions on the East Coast, where the time changes will prove to be strenuous for the athletes. In addition, Stanford’s star Forward Cameron Brink will be eligible for the WNBA Draft, leaving little star power on the roster. Despite the program’s historic run, conference realignment and the closing of a championship window will not bode well for the university. Not good for Hailey Van Lith at all.
Transfer to: Gonzaga
Being from Wenatchee, Washington, Spokane Washington where Gonzaga’s campus is a stone’s throw away from where Van Lith grew up. Gonzaga made a respectable tournament run in 2024, and was first in the West Coast Conference in the regular season. This is a program that has historically flown under the radar because the Men’s team is viewed as better, but adding a superstar guard like Van Lith will help to bolster respect for the program on and off the court.
Stay away from: Boise State
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 29: San Jos? State Spartans forward Tyra Whitehead (15) moves back up court during the game between the Women’s San Jose Spartans and the Boise State Broncos on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at the Event Center Arena in San Jose, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Many “experts” seem to think Boise State would be a good transfer destination for Haley Van Lith, but this is a team that failed to make the NCAA Tournament in 2024. This is also a team that plays in the Mountain West Conference against lower-level opponents. If Van Lith is to raise her draft stock, Boise State is not the team to do it with.
Transfer to: Iowa
Talk about a dominant performance, the most popular player in all of college basketball. Caitlin Clark will be participating in the WNBA draft and leaving the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes are also losing four more guards due to graduation, some may choose to exercise their fifth-year option, but only time will tell. Regardless, replacing one superstar with another would provide Iowa with the chance to make another deep tournament run before their championship window closes.
Stay away from: Southern California
The 2024 Pac-12 champions USC Trojans suffered a tough loss in the Portland regional final to the UConn Huskies, despite being ranked as the higher seed in the tournament. The Trojans have been categorized by their fantastic Guard play all season long, and this dominance has been led by Senior Guard JuJu Watkins. During the 2023-2024 season, only one player on the USC Roster (Clarice Akunwafo) was not listed as a guard on the USC roster. Point being, USC has enough talent to replace what is being lost as players declare for the WNBA or transfer portal.
Transfer to: UConn
Paige Bueckers is arguably the number one pick in the WNBA Draft, and another dominant women’s basketball player to come out of UConn. The Huskies will need someone to replace Bueckers in 2024; Haley Van Lith could be just the right piece to the puzzle in order to continue UConn’s dominance.
Stay away from: Duke
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 4: The Stanford Cardinal take on the Florida State Seminoles during the Division I Women’s Soccer Championship held at Wake Med Soccer Park on December 4, 2023 in Cary, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The Duke Blue Devils won 22 games in the 2023-2024 NCAA season, earning them the seventh seed in the Portland region of the NCAA Tournament. Duke outperformed everyone’s expectations, taking down tenth seeded Richmond, and second seeded Ohio State. The Duke roster only lists three seniors, and there are players ready to step up and take the next available spot. Head coach Kara Lawson has her team performing well, and the team is ready for a deep tournament run in 2025 with who is currently on the roster. Hailey Van Lith should contribute immensely.
