Basketball sensation Hailey Van Lith has kicked off the new college season with a bang and boasts ties to some of the sport’s most renowned figures.
The 23-year-old starlet made a move from LSU to Texas Christian University earlier this year, opting not to enter the WNBA draft. This marked the second time the former five-star prospect had navigated the transfer portal, having twice been named to the All-ACC team during her stint in Louisville before making a switch to the reigning NCAA champions Louisiana in 2023.
Despite a dip in her stats due to a position change at LSU, Van Lith has found her stride as a guard at the Horned Frogs, recently netting her first career double-double. Although she hasn’t stepped into the WNBA yet, the US Olympic bronze medalist already commands a seven-figure worth and has crossed paths with the late, great Kobe Bryant, as well as fellow rising star Caitlin Clark.
What is Hailey Van Lith’s net worth?
Van Lith has consistently ranked high on various prospect lists over the years and enjoys a massive Instagram following of 1.2million. The young athlete can monetise her ‘Name, Image and Likeness’ through brand deals as a college player, reports the Mirror US.
The TCU guard has amassed an impressive portfolio of sponsorship deals, partnering with prominent brands such as Adidas, LaCroix, Apple Cash, and numerous others. According to On3, her extensive list of NIL sponsors are valued at approximately $779k annually.
Van Lith’s exact net worth is unknown, but On3 estimates her value to be between $1million and $5m, influenced in part by her team’s on-court success.
(Image: Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
When did Kobe Bryant and Hailey Van Lith become friends?
Van Lith’s friendship with Kobe Bryant began unexpectedly in 2019, during the USA’s U18 World Cup-winning campaign. She received a surprise message from one of Bryant’s team members, inviting her to meet with the basketball legend in Los Angeles.
“The text was from one of Kobe’s main guys – I called him ‘T,’ and he just basically said that Kobe knew about me, loved my game and really wanted to get me to L.A. to work with him and talk about basketball,” Van Lith recalled.
She was astonished that Bryant knew of her and admired her skills. When she asked why he chose to reach out, Bryant explained that her playing style, work ethic, and on-court mentality reminded him of himself.
In a 2022 interview, Van Lith fondly remembered their meeting, saying: “Having Gigi there was something that was really cool and just getting the opportunity to mentor her a little bit.”
One of the reasons Bryant was eager to train with Van Lith was to demonstrate her work ethic to his aspiring basketball star daughter Gigi and to understand how Van Lith’s father coached her. In a gesture of gratitude, Bryant attended a Cashmere High School game to support Van Lith, just a fortnight before he, Gigi, and seven others tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
What is Hailey Van Lith’s relationship like with Caitlin Clark?
In 2023, whispers of a rivalry between Van Lith and current Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark made headlines. A heated 97-83 game saw Van Lith’s Louisville Cardinals bested by Clark’s Iowa in the Elite Eight.
(Image: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Clark’s ‘you can’t see me’ hand signal during the match was seen as a jab at Van Lith, sparking rumors of bad blood between them. “It was actually hilarious because right after the game I texted her and I was like, ‘The media is dumb.’ I’m sorry, you guys have no idea,” Van Lith said.
“They just make stuff up and then they just put it all over the internet and everyone thinks it’s true. Like, it’s just hilarious. We were laughing about it because she did it to her strength coach. She didn’t do it to anyone on our team, especially me. Definitely not toward me. People have speculated and said it on social media, ‘was it to Hailey?’
“And I’ve just never answered because who cares? This is my first time. I’m clearing it up, guys. Caitlin Clark did not do this to me, and if she did that would’ve been hilarious and we would’ve laughed about it, too. It’s not that serious.”
