star and head coach Kim Mulkey teased shocked Hailey Van Lith after she learned her old team, the Louisville Cardinals, could be visiting Baton Rouge in the Women's
basketball Tournament. Van Lith transferred to the reigning national champions in the offseason after three seasons in Louisville. It wasn't only her talent on the basketball court that caught LSU's eye - but also her fiery personality. Van Lith has enjoyed her senior year with the Tigers, who head into March Madness as the No. 3 seed despite being last season's top team. The Tigers will face N0. 14 Rice but should they get through that, a date with Van Lith's former Louisville or Middle Tennessee on the cards. She looked taken back at the revelation as the team gathered to learn their tournament path, as teammate Reese and coach Mulkey playfully teased. Transferring schools isn't easy but for Van Lith, it has been effortless, as she opened up on the decision to make the big move. “LSU is unique because it’s a very pro-style vibe," she said. "We all have our own lives. We come to practice, and we like each other. It’s not that we don’t like each other. We’re good
Friends, but like we all got our own shit to do. It’s definitely unique, but it also allows you to be super individual and pursue the things you want to pursue.” Van Lith also explained why
NBA superstar Steph Curry is her inspiration on the court. "At the beginning of the year, I was caught in the cycle of being a passing point guard," she added. "And that was not benefiting me. I’m not Steph Curry, but I look at Steph Curry, and I’m like, ‘OK, he’s not the traditional point guard, and that’s who I can be.” If LSU is to retain the National Championship, one of the teams to beat is South Carolina, the college side they were defeated by in the SEC Championship. South Carolina ran out 79-72 winners as the Gamecock remained unbeaten heading into the NCAA Tournament. There was also a scuffle between the two teams after South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso pushed LSU's Flau’jae Johnson to the ground after she attempted to stop MiLaysia Fulwiley. Cardoso later apologized for her role in the incident. She wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game. My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future."