Hailey Van Lith has shared that her mental health struggles during her college years were deeply tied to the pressures of early exposure to media and social media.
Hailey Van Lith, a talented basketball player, recently concluded her college career with TCU, averaging 17.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds.
Her team reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament but lost to Texas with a score of 58-47.
After the game, she shared an emotional moment with her coach, Mark Campbell, and expressed her gratitude for the relationships she had built.
Van Lith is now preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft, where she is expected to be a first-round pick.
Hailey Van Lith Credited Her Coach, Mark Campbell, For Helping Her Rediscover Her Love For Basketball And Life!
Hailey Van Lith has been open about her mental health struggles, particularly during her earlier college years.
She revealed that early exposure to media and social scrutiny significantly impacted her well-being.
Further, she described that during her early college years, she battled suicidal thoughts, felt trapped, and was heavily medicated.
She said:
When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal. I was heavily medicated. And I felt trapped in. And I did it. And you would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court. But internally and in life in general, like I, I was ready to be done.
Despite her success on the court, she faced internal battles, which she described as a deeply painful experience.
However, she has worked hard to overcome these challenges, relying on therapy and the support of her coach and teammates.
"I wasn't necessarily in a place where I even knew who I was anymore. [HC Mark Campbell] has just breathed life into me."
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 1, 2025
Hailey Van Lith shows her appreciation for Campbell 💜 pic.twitter.com/CdvYXgNIrS
Her turning point came when she sought professional help, including therapy and sports psychology.
Van Lith credits her faith and support system for helping her overcome these challenges.
Additionally, she acknowledged her journey at TCU and the support of her coach, Mark Campbell, for helping her rediscover her sense of self and purpose.
Hailey Van Lith embraces her coach after her last collegiate game ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tMvictQfSg
— ESPN (@espn) April 1, 2025
During her time at TCU, Haile shared a transformative relationship with her coach.
In a postgame press conference after TCU’s loss to Texas, she expressed her gratitude for his support, saying:
I’m forever grateful for him, and God put him in my life to transform it, and he certainly has done that. I can’t wait to be a TCU alum. I can’t wait to come back and give back to this program and continue having my relationship with Coach. I think he will be around for the rest of my life, so that’s the best part about this year.
Further, she said, her decision to transfer to TCU was not just about basketball but also about finding peace and purpose.
She has since embraced her role as a mental health advocate, inspiring others with her story.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Hailey played for three different schools: Louisville, LSU, and TCU.
- She became the first player to lead three programs to the elite Eight.
- She earned Big 12 Player of the Year and Third-Team All-American honors.
