Hailey Van Lith has built one of the most recognizable careers among her generation of American basketball players. Born on September 9, 2001, in Wenatchee, Washington, she is 24 years old as of August 12, 2026 and will turn 25 on September 9. Her journey has included elite high school basketball, three major college programs, the Olympics and the WNBA.
Van Lith’s profile extends beyond her age. The 5-foot-9 guard became a decorated college player, an Olympic bronze medalist, a first-round WNBA draft pick and a prominent athlete in the NIL era. Her competitive approach, scoring ability and willingness to adapt across different teams have kept her in the national basketball conversation throughout her development.
Quick Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Hailey Ann Van Lith |
| Date of Birth | September 9, 2001 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Wenatchee, Washington, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 157 lb (71 kg) |
| Position | Guard |
| Current Team | Connecticut Sun |
| WNBA Draft | 2025, Round 1, No. 11 overall |
| Colleges | Louisville, LSU and TCU |
| High School | Cashmere High School |
| Olympic Medal | Bronze, Paris 2024 women’s 3×3 basketball |
| Parents | Corey and Jessica Van Lith |
Hailey Van Lith Age and Birthday
Hailey Van Lith is 24 years old as of August 12, 2026. Her official WNBA profile gives her birth date as September 9, 2001, meaning she will celebrate her 25th birthday on September 9, 2026. She was born in Wenatchee, Washington, and grew up in the nearby Cashmere area where much of her early basketball development took place.
Her relatively young age is notable because she had already accumulated years of national-level experience before beginning her professional career. Van Lith competed for USA Basketball as a teenager, played five college seasons and became an Olympian before entering the 2025 WNBA Draft, giving her an unusually broad résumé by her mid-twenties.
Early Life and Family Background
Van Lith is the daughter of Corey Van Lith and Jessica Van Lith. Basketball was part of her environment from an early age, especially through Corey, who played both basketball and baseball at the University of Puget Sound. TCU’s official biography notes that Hailey trained with her father four to five nights each week while developing her game.
She also has an older brother, Tanner Van Lith, who played college baseball at Big Bend Community College. That made Hailey the third member of her immediate family to compete in college athletics. Her family’s sporting background helped make training and competition familiar parts of her childhood rather than activities she encountered only after becoming an elite prospect.
Height, Weight and Physical Profile
The WNBA officially lists Van Lith at 5 feet 9 inches and 157 pounds, or approximately 1.75 meters and 71 kilograms. She plays guard and is a left-handed shooter, characteristics that have helped shape a game built around ball handling, perimeter shooting, drives and creating opportunities for teammates.
Her professional role has increasingly emphasized decision-making and efficiency rather than simply carrying a large scoring load. During her college years, she showed an ability to function as both an assertive scorer and a primary creator, particularly during her final season at TCU, where her assist production became an important part of one of the best teams in school history.
High School Basketball and Early Success
Van Lith attended Cashmere High School in Washington and became one of the country’s highest-rated recruits. She scored more than 2,000 career points and established major school records, including marks of 52 points in one game and 12 made three-pointers in a game. As a senior, she averaged 33.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
Her performances brought national recognition. Van Lith was selected as a 2020 McDonald’s All-American, earned Gatorade Washington Player of the Year recognition and was ranked among the leading prospects in the 2020 recruiting class. Her athletic ability was not restricted to basketball either, as she also played softball throughout high school.
Louisville and LSU College Years
Van Lith began her college career at Louisville, where she immediately entered the rotation and started all 30 games as a freshman. She developed into Louisville’s leading scorer and became a multiple-time All-ACC selection, helping the Cardinals make deep NCAA Tournament runs. Her Louisville years established her nationally as an aggressive scoring guard capable of producing against elite competition.
She transferred to LSU for the 2023–24 season, joining a program that had just won the national championship. Van Lith averaged 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game for the Tigers, who reached the Elite Eight. After one season at LSU, she entered the transfer portal again and chose TCU for her final year of college eligibility.
TCU Breakthrough and Major Achievements
The move to TCU became one of the defining decisions of Van Lith’s college career. During the 2024–25 season, she averaged 17.9 points, 5.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Her performances helped TCU claim its first Big 12 regular-season championship and first Big 12 postseason tournament championship.
Van Lith became the first TCU player to earn Big 12 Player of the Year and was also named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She received the conference tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award and helped the Horned Frogs reach their first Elite Eight. Her final college season also produced multiple All-America honors and significantly strengthened her professional résumé.
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Team USA and Olympic Bronze Medal
Van Lith developed an extensive USA Basketball résumé before reaching the WNBA. She won multiple international gold medals in youth and 3×3 competition, including titles at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup and 2019 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup. Her experience eventually led to selection for the 2024 U.S. Olympic 3×3 team.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the United States won the bronze medal with Van Lith, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard and Cierra Burdick. Van Lith led Team USA with 47 points during the tournament and recorded a team-high 13 key assists. USA Basketball later named her its 2024 3×3 Female Athlete of the Year.
WNBA Draft and Professional Career
The Chicago Sky selected Van Lith with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. During her rookie regular season, she appeared in 29 games, averaging 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 12.4 minutes per game. The season provided her first sustained experience adapting her game to professional defenders and WNBA pace.
Her professional situation changed in 2026. After leaving Chicago, Van Lith joined the Connecticut Sun, where she produced a career-high 17-point game against Las Vegas in May. Connecticut later signed her to a player development contract on May 30, 2026, and she remains listed by the Sun as a guard wearing No. 2.
Earnings, NIL Success and Brand Partnerships
Van Lith became a significant commercial athlete during the growth of name, image and likeness opportunities in college sports. Boardroom, citing On3’s NIL valuation system in April 2023, recorded a 10-week valuation range between $479,000 and $526,000. That figure represented estimated NIL market value rather than personal net worth or guaranteed earnings.
Her most visible partnerships have included Adidas, which featured her in major basketball marketing campaigns. Adidas described Van Lith as a partner in its campaign encouraging athletes to handle competitive pressure while reconnecting with the enjoyment of sport. Her combination of basketball performance, style and digital visibility made her a recognizable figure in athlete marketing before she entered the WNBA.
Education, Interests and Life Away From Basketball
Van Lith completed a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Louisville in 2023, adding an academic accomplishment to her three seasons with the Cardinals. TCU’s official biography also notes that she has expressed an interest in law school while pursuing her professional basketball career, showing interests extending beyond competition on the court.
Sports have remained central to her lifestyle since childhood. She played softball as a shortstop and center fielder throughout high school and attracted Division I scholarship interest in the sport at a young age. Her background illustrates the broader athletic ability behind the basketball skills that eventually carried her from Washington to college basketball and the WNBA.
Social Media Presence
Van Lith has developed a substantial digital audience alongside her basketball career. Her official Instagram account, @haileyvanlith, has around one million followers and features a mix of basketball, fashion, travel and personal content. Her profile allows supporters to follow both her professional career and aspects of her life away from game days.
She also uses X under @haileyvanlith, where her account has accumulated tens of thousands of followers. Her social reach contributed to her value during the NIL era and has provided brands with an audience extending well beyond traditional basketball coverage, complementing the visibility she receives through college, Olympic and WNBA competition.
Interesting Facts About Hailey Van Lith
- Van Lith won an Olympic bronze medal with the United States women’s 3×3 basketball team at the Paris 2024 Games.
- She became TCU’s first Big 12 Player of the Year after her standout 2024–25 season.
- Her father, Corey Van Lith, played both basketball and baseball at the University of Puget Sound.
- She played softball throughout high school and received Division I scholarship interest in that sport.
- Van Lith scored more than 2,000 points at Cashmere High School before beginning her college basketball career.
Conclusion
At 24 years old, Hailey Van Lith has already built a résumé spanning elite high school basketball, Louisville, LSU, TCU, Team USA and the WNBA. Her 5-foot-9 frame, scoring skill and development as a playmaker helped her become Big 12 Player of the Year, an Olympian and the 11th overall selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Her career continues with the Connecticut Sun, where she has been developing her professional game after an eventful transition into the league. With a major college résumé, Olympic bronze medal, international experience and established public profile, Van Lith enters her mid-twenties with substantial basketball experience already behind her.
FAQs
How old is Hailey Van Lith?
Hailey Van Lith is 24 years old as of August 2026. She was born on September 9, 2001, in Wenatchee, Washington.
How tall is Hailey Van Lith?
Hailey Van Lith is officially listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 157 pounds by the WNBA.
Who are Hailey Van Lith’s parents?
Her parents are Corey and Jessica Van Lith. Corey played basketball and baseball at the University of Puget Sound.
What WNBA team does Hailey Van Lith play for?
Van Lith is listed as a guard for the Connecticut Sun, wearing No. 2 during the 2026 WNBA season.
Did Hailey Van Lith win an Olympic medal?
Yes. Van Lith earned a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics as a member of the United States women’s 3×3 basketball team.
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