Hailey Van Lith made a striking first impression before Monday night’s WNBA Draft, captivating attention not just on the basketball court but also on the red carpet.
The TCU standout arrived in a dramatic black dress that quickly became a topic of conversation online. She wasn’t alone; several other highly-regarded draft prospects, including Paige Bueckers, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron, Georgia Amoore, Aneesah Morrow, Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers, also graced the carpet in anticipation of being selected.
Van Lith playfully described her ensemble, stating, “It’s a funeral, babe. It’s a college funeral.”
Entering the draft after completing her collegiate career at TCU, Van Lith spearheaded the Horned Frogs to their first-ever Big 12 Championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Women’s Tournament – a historic achievement for the program.
Throughout her impressive career, she accumulated averages of 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists across 172 games, earning All-American honors last season.
Beyond her on-court performance, Van Lith has courageously shared her personal journey with mental health, a story that resonated deeply with many. As she revealed in an interview:
> “The way that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things… When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal, I was heavily medicated, and I felt trapped.”
She continued, “So, to come from that to this is incredible. I’ve been praying all year like, ‘God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light,’ and I think this is the year and this is the moment that he wants people to know my story and how he has taken me literally from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life. Even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people.”
Her openness about her struggles and subsequent recovery have been widely praised, highlighting a remarkable transformation and inspiring others facing similar challenges.
