By Hanna Barton | @Hannakbarton00

Sports Capital Journalism Program

PARIS — Hailey Van Lith will make her Olympic debut next week as member of the USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball team. The U.S. will meet Germany at La Concorde’s outdoor court on Tuesday with a backdrop featuring the Eiffel Tower. Her accomplishment comes on the tail end of a year that, from an outsider’s perspective, could be deemed as disappointing after an LSU season that ended short of the Women’s Final Four.

But between making the Olympic team and anticipating a college season at a new school, Van Lith’s confidence can be traced to her relationship with the late Kobe Bryant.

“Anytime I feel that I start to doubt where I’m at or what I’m doing, I just am reminded of Kobe’s undeniable desire to play and be great,” Van Lith said.

The meteoric rise of women’s basketball put a spotlight on the bright stars of the NCAA. A standout her first three years at Louisville, Van Lith was a highly anticipated addition to the 2023 national champions after transferring to LSU last summer. Van Lith, teammate Angel Reese, coach Kim Mulkey and the rest of the team were placed under a microscope throughout this past season. Criticism seemed to become a theme, and Van Lith was not immune to constant analysis of her performance, attitude, and relationship with her team. When the season concluded, the point guard announced her plans to spend her final year of college basketball at TCU.

Van Lith has been open about her close relationship with Bryant and his daughter Gigi since their tragic death in 2020. Growing up in small-town Washington, she caught Bryant’s eye during her high school career and soon developed a relationship with both him and Gigi. Bryant mentored Van Lith, providing guidance and support as well as inviting her to workouts at Mamba Academy in L.A. During her senior year, the father and daughter attended one of Van Lith’s games at Cashmere High School, causing a frenzy in the town of just over 3,000.

“He saw some of himself in me and that’s an honor,” Van Lith said. “I’m just going to do my best to be authentic to myself, because that’s exactly what he would want me to do.”

When Van Lith arrived at the USA Basketball headquarters in France, she and the rest of the team were greeted by a mural of Bryant stretched across one of the hallways. The image displays the two-time Olympic gold medalist clothed in a USA jersey accompanied by the words “Silence ‘Em.” As Van Lith beings her Olympic journey, the sight of someone so significant to her — both as a person and a player — is reassurance that this part of her journey was meant to be.

“It’s weird how God puts people into your life and, even after he’s gone, he’s continually showed up for me in moments when I needed to hear from him,” said Van Lith. “I’ve seen a lot of things lately that really just hit hard on what he meant to me and what he did for my career.”