SportsSkeeda: Fans get ruthless with Hailey Van Lith as TCU star may face former team in March Madness: "Sick of NIL creating these mercenaries"

[TopFrog]

Fans get ruthless with Hailey Van Lith as TCU star may face former team in March Madness: "Sick of NIL creating these mercenaries"​

Saahil Dhillan

Hailey Van Lith can potentially have her last gala in front of Louisville fans during her final collegiate season. The guard's current program, TCU Horned Frogs, is aligned to begin its NCAA journey against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. On the same day, Van Lith's former school, the Cardinals, plays Nebraska at the Schollmaier Arena for its first round.

In case both of HVL's teams win their respective opening contests, the 2025 WNBA draft candidate will face her former school in a win-or-go-home environment.

Some fans reacted to the update on X, with some reacting to Hailey Van Lith'sdecision to transfer twice:

"When TCU loses, what team will she transfer to this time??" a fan wrote.

"That was before she developed an ego. And before she got that weird behind-the-ear tattoo.," a user added.

"Sick of NIL creating these mercenaries. so many players on their third or fourth school just for a few more dollars. zero continuity," another fan commented.

On the other hand, some fans showcased excitement over the idea of HVL facing her former program:

"We could have had it last year. But Louisville blew it. I hope they hold up their end of the bargain this time.," a fan wrote.

"Might be the drama we didn't know we needed!" a user commented.

"Talk about a must-watch matchup! Hailey Van Lith vs. Louisville is the definition of basketball drama," another fan added.

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Hailey Van Lith has never faced her former team​

In case Louisville and TCU meet in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, it will be the first time Van Lith will be facing her former school. She played her first three D1 years with the Cardinals and then transferred to the LSU Tigers in the 2023 summer.

HVL was just a game away from the playing Louisville last season. Kim Mulkey's team faced Rice in the first round, whereas Louisville faced Middle Tennessee. Van Lith held her end of the bargain whereas the Cardinals lost 69-71.

ESPN's matchup predictor currently gives TCU a 99% chance to qualify for the next round, while her former school has a 56.5% chance. It could also be Hailey Van Lith's only time facing her old school because the only round she can face the LSU Tigers is the NCAA championship game.

 

[HToady]

They need to stop quoting Kim Mulkey....

 

[Frognosticator]

How dare she take a ton of money to play basketball!! The nerve!

 

[Mean Purple]

Didn't know Lville wasn't allowed to make use of NIL ...

 

[froginmn]

NIL didn't create this; the elimination of transfer restrictions did.

 

[An-Cap Frog]

Did these same people make these comments when Miami was in Final Four on the men's side in 2023?

 

[namollec]

People stirring up drama.
Doesn't even exist yet.
Only hoping the worst for HVL.

Kinda ugly, IMO

 

[TopFrog]

Putting a bigger chip on her shoulder.

 

[HToady]

Maybe she just wanted to go to a school where you had to know how to read and write…..

 

[tmcats]

it's really unfair to blame youngsters for a structure created by adults. there's no one on this earth who given the opportunity would not take nil payments. it's the system not the athletes. blame college presidents who run the ncaa, not 20-year-old athletes who take advantage of it.

if congress doesn't step in soon, we'll be down to the b10 and sec anyway. then there will be no complaining about nil payments to hvl at tcu or avery johnson at k-state.