LSU’s Angel Reese, Kim Mulkey Overjoyed by Hailey Van Lith’s Transfer

LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese and coach Kim Mulkey were thrilled after former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith announced that she was transferring to the Tigers’ program on Thursday.

Van Lith, who is coming off back-to-back seasons of earning first-team All-ACC honors, averaged 19.7 points, 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cardinals this past year. As the Tigers seek to win back-to-back titles in ’23, Reese could not be happier for her new teammate in Baton Rouge.

“oh it’s UP.🤪,” Reese tweeted in response to Van Lith’s transfer announcement.

Van Lith tweeted a photo of her wearing a LSU jersey with the No. 11. At Louisville, she wore No. 10, but that number belongs already belongs to Reese.

Baccellieri: Hailey Van Lith and LSU Are a Perfectly Lethal Match

Meanwhile, Mulkey was cool, calm and collected after the news broke. Gary Redus, one of Mulkey’s assistants, posted a video on social media of the Tigers’ coach with her legs propped up on her desk with no worries after securing Van Lith from the portal.

Mulkey even insinuated she was waiting for another recruit to come in town for a visit. 

The last time a women’s Division I basketball team won back-to-back championships was when UConn won the title in three straight years from 2014 to ‘16. With the addition of Van Lith, Mulkey and Reese are thrilled about program’s chances to be the next team to accomplish that feat.