BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – As TCU women’s basketball prepares for the program’s first Elite Eight appearnace on Monday against No. 1 Texas, star guard Hailey Van Lith confirmed an unusual report about her health.
Her left leg is a half-inch shorter than her right.
Van Lith, who is playing in a record fifth Elite Eight with a third different team, admitted Sunday that it is harder to drive to one side than the other because of the difference. The right side of her body, she said, is stronger and bigger than her left, including her hand, foot and quad.
“I definitely always prefer to plant off my right leg,” said Van Lith, who stands a 5-foot-9. “I think fading to my left is a lot more comfortable because the leg is shorter so it probably doesn't touch the ground as much.”
The difference in size has not slowed her down. Van Lith took home Big 12 Player of the Year honors this season and set the single-season scoring record for TCU with 663 points.
“At this point in my career, I'm older and I know how to manage my body in that way,” Van Lith said.
A 2020 McDonald’s All-American, she began her career at Louisville. In three seasons, she led the Cardinals to the Final Four in 2021 and then back-to-back Elite Eights. After her junior season, she transferred to LSU, joining forces with Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson.
But her time with the Tigers didn’t go as expected individually. She posted a career-low field goal percentage and her lowest point-per-game average since her freshman season.
Van Lith’s LSU stats drew backlash from fans on social media.
“A lot of people have opinions and social media has given a lot of people who don't know what they're talking about a platform to share their thoughts,” Van Lith said Sunday, a day after her 26-point, nine-rebound performance against Notre Dame had her trending for different reasons. “I’m praying for them, man.”
Wesley Branch is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TCU star Hailey Van Lith confirmed an unusual fact about herself
