Hailey Van Lith opted to depart LSU and enter the transfer portal following just one season under head coach Kim Mulkey. She is set to utilize her fifth and final year of eligibility in the upcoming season.

Speculation suggests Van Lith may join Sam Purcell at Mississippi State, but she intends to take her time in making her decision, having already gone through this process once before.

Irrespective of her destination, Mulkey disclosed that Van Lith will return to her natural position for the 2024/25 college basketball season, which served as the driving force behind her departure from Baton Rouge, according to the 61-year-old coach.

Neither Mulkey nor Van Lith addressed the departure until Thursday night, with Mulkey extending her best wishes to Van Lith.

Mulkey also informed fans and boosters that Van Lith fulfilled her commitment, which was to play one year for the Tigers. However, the original plan was for her to then pursue a professional career. That plan didn’t materialize.

Van Lith experienced a decline in her WNBA Draft prospects due to a change in position. Opting out of the league and returning to college reflects her desire to return to a more comfortable position.

Her aspirations were to get drafted this year. And she realized, “I need another year, and I need to get back to a place where I can relax and get back to my normal position.”

— Kim Mulkey

During her true senior year, Van Lith faced struggles, evident in moments of visible frustration with herself, teammates, and her coach, including at least one instance where Angel Reese expressed frustration with her.

The transition never fully clicked.

However, despite the challenges and the unsuccessful position change, Van Lith gained valuable insights. Mulkey commended her as “one of the hardest working players” she has coached and lauded her for stepping out of her comfort zone.

Van Lith’s decision to join LSU stemmed from her desire to enhance her strengths and broaden her game by mastering a position that Mulkey herself had excelled in throughout her life. She recognized that at the next level, versatility would be crucial, being able to demonstrate her ball-handling skills if necessary.

Embracing this shift required a change in mindset from being a high-volume shooter to becoming more of a facilitator, identifying open teammates and delivering the ball to them. However, this adjustment wasn’t always easy, especially when facing intense pressure, leading her to sometimes over-dribble in an effort to navigate through defenses.

— Kim Mulkey

During her sole season at LSU, Hailey Van Lith’s offensive output underwent a notable decline compared to her junior year at Louisville. She took seven fewer shots per game and scored an average of eight points less. Additionally, her shooting percentage dropped to a career-low of 38%.

Having honed her skills as a primary ball-handler, Van Lith is now poised to revert to a more familiar role as a scorer, according to Mulkey. Standing at 5-foot-7, the guard aims to blend her scoring prowess with her newfound playmaking ability, envisioning a well-rounded skill set that can attract greater attention from and position her for success in the WNBA.