Hailey Van Lith could face an awkward reunion with her old team – the Louisville Cardinals – in March Madness after transferring to the LSU Tigers in the offseason.

LSU star Angel Reese and head coach Kim Mulkey teased a shocked Hailey Van Lith after she learned that Louisville, which was her team before this season, could visit Baton Rouge in the NCAA Tournament.

Van Lith transferred to the reigning national champions in the offseason after three seasons at Louisville. It wasn’t only her talent on the basketball court that caught LSU’s eye – but also her fiery personality.

The guard has enjoyed her senior year with the Tigers, who head into March Madness as a No. 3 seed after winning it all in 2023. The Tigers will face No. 14-seed Rice first, and should they get through that, will have date with Van Lith’s former team Louisville or Middle Tennessee.

During Sunday night’s selection show, Van Lith looked taken back at the revelation she could face the Cardinals as the Tigers gathered to learn their tournament path.

Transferring schools isn’t easy, but for Van Lith, it has looked effortless, as she opened up on the decision to make the big move earlier in the campaign.

“LSU is unique because it’s a very pro-style vibe,” she said. “We all have our own lives. We come to practice, and we like each other. It’s not that we don’t like each other. We’re good friends, but like we all got our own shit to do.

It’s definitely unique, but it also allows you to be super individual and pursue the things you want to pursue.”

Van Lith also explained why NBA superstar Stephen Curry is her inspiration on the court. “At the beginning of the year, I was caught in the cycle of being a passing point guard,” she added. “And that was not benefiting me.

I’m not Steph Curry, but I look at Steph Curry, and I’m like, ‘OK, he’s not the traditional point guard, and that’s who I can be.”

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If LSU is to retain the national championship, one of the teams it may need to beat is South Carolina, which took down Van Lith and Co. in the regular season and SEC Tournament. South Carolina ran out 79-72 winners in the latter matchup, as the Gamecocks remained unbeaten heading into the NCAA Tournament.

There was also a scuffle between the two teams after South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso pushed LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson to the ground after Johnson fouled MiLaysia Fulwiley in the open court.

Cardoso later apologized for her role in the incident. She wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game.

My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused.

I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future.”