TCU’s Sedona Prince drops 2-word reaction in support of Hailey Van Lith’s Team USA honor

USA Basketball announced Hailey Van Lith as the 2024 3x3 Female Athlete of the Year on Monday. The guard's TCU teammate, Sedona Prince, shared her support as she reposted the news on her Instagram story and wrote:

"Well deserved."

Sedona Prince supporting Van Lith (Credits: Instagram/@sedonaprince)

Van Lith spent her 2024 summer at the Paris Olympics representing Team USA in the 3x3 women's basketball event. Playing alongside Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard, HVL was the primary playmaker and led the team to win a bronze medal.

TCU first shared the news on their Instagram account with the caption:

"America’s best 🏆"

Hailey Van Lith's history with Team USA 3x3 basketball

Hailey Van Lith was already exposed to the 3x3 format since 2018 and had won gold medals playing at Youth Olympic Games and FIBA U18 World Cup. In an interview with USA Today, Hailey Van Lith explained her beginnings in the format.

"I think the first time I played 3x3 I was like 15, so I had no limits on my dreams for myself at that point, I thought I could do anything, I thought I could make the final 5-on-5 team when I was 18," she said.

"I definitely always envisioned myself being an Olympian but I don’t think I knew about 3x3 until the middle of high school."

The Paris games were a moment of redemption for the guard who came into it after a year of disappointing performances with the LSU Tigers.

"USA Basketball took a chance on us," Van Lith said. "For us to go defy the odds and get the job done was an awesome feeling because I really felt like, 'Okay, I'm good enough at this sport. I can really do something special.'"

"It was a full-circle moment for me," she added. "I invested pretty much my entire summer into 3x3 the last couple of years, and they never guaranteed me anything. To be awarded at the end of all that was a feeling that I couldn't describe."

Hailey Van Lith is playing her fifth college season with the TCU Horned Frogs. Her participation in the Olympics gave the guard the boost she needed as she is now playing her best, averaging 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 45.0% from the floor.