TCU women's basketball recently accomplished a tremendous feat by winning its first Big 12 championship in the program's history. It has been a strong season for the Horned Frogs who are now preparing for a possible national championship run. Of course, there is still plenty of work to do for the team, but Hailey Van Lith has already done enough to cement her status as a 2025 WNBA Draft first round pick.
Van Lith first emerged as a star at Louisville before transferring to LSU. The move to LSU did not go according to plan last year, though, as she endured a down season. Van Lith's basketball future was seemingly in question, but then she made the decision to transfer to TCU.
Some overlooked the move. Van Lith displayed signs of decline in 2023-24, so would moving to TCU truly help her get back on track? The answer has been a resounding yes.
Hailey Van Lith's impressive 2024-25 season
Leading TCU to the Big 12 championship is already quite impressive. Her statistics suggest that Van Lith has indeed discovered her rhythm on the floor once again.
The 23-year-old is averaging 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals per outing so far in the 2024-25 campaign. She is also shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from three-point land.
At 5'9", Van Lith is an undersized guard who offers more scoring prowess than play-making ability. She isn't a bad passer, but Van Lith is at her best when she is scoring the basketball. That is not a bad thing, but some WNBA teams would likely prefer a guard who provides a more balanced attack.
With that being said, Van Lith has improved her play-making ability. Her scoring has bounced back this season as well, so the TCU guard is once again establishing herself as a top prospect.
When will Van Lith be drafted?
Van Lith is not a top five prospect. However, her chances of getting selected in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft have improved immensely in the 2024-25 season. She has a realistic opportunity to be drafted in the middle or at the end of the first round.
Van Lith still has room to improve. She will likely require a year or two in the WNBA to truly begin making a crucial impact. Van Lith's potential suggests that she can be a reliable player in the WNBA, though.