"She was really distant from everybody else": Former LSU star Angel Reese discusses her relationship with Hailey Van Lith as teammates

Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith shared the court for one year during the 2023-24 season. The guard had transferred to the LSU Tigers after three years with the Louisville Cardinals.

Although the two gave off the impression of great friends off the court as well with their working chemistry, Angel Reese revealed that it was not always the case. However, she did describe herself as one of the "closer people" on the team with Van Lith.

In Episode 1 of her "Unapologetically Angel" podcast released on Thursday, the Chicago Sky forward spoke about her friendship with Hailey Van Lith.

"We weren't like super close, but I was probably one of the closer people with her on the team," Reese said. "Because I think she was really distant from everybody else, so I kinda felt bad. I was like, 'Let me get closer and see who she is' because she was the only white girl on the team. So I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable."

"I wanted her to feel as comfortable as she could. Being able to come into a situation where she had to transfer. She was super successful at Louisville and then, for a little while, she struggled with confidence in the beginning and then just being able to be there for her."

Hailey Van Lith's struggles on court were evident during LSU's run to the Elite Eight. She averaged 11.6 points and 2.4 rebounds, a drop from the 19.6 points and 4.5 rebounds she averaged during her junior year at Louisville. She slightly improved in assists as she went from 3.2 to 3.6.

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Angel Reese says Hailey Van Lith might not have been a "great fit" for LSU

Hailey Van Lith's most talked about moment from last year was the Elite Eight game when she struggled immensely to contain Caitlin Clark. Van Lith was not subbed out from the role for a long time and at one point, she simply threw up her hands as Clark bucketed one of her nine three-pointed from the night.

When talking about Van Lith, Angel Reese also said the LSU team from last season was probably not the best fit for the guard.

"Yeah, I think it just wasn't a good fit for that specific team. She's an amazing guard that can do so many great things on the court. I've seen her kill for a long time and I know she'll continue to kill and I see her gain her confidence back on the three and three."

Reese went on to share that the two still text each other and that she is hoping to support Hailey Van Lith during her final season at TCU.