WATCH: Team USA's Hailey Van Lith shares BTS of Paris Olympics opening ceremony ft. LeBron James and a glamorous shot of Eiffel Tower

Hailey Van Lith is preparing for her Olympics debut at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. She will represent Team USA in the 3x3 basketball games along with WNBA players Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and former WNBA player Cierra Burdick.

On Friday, Van Lith took part in the opening ceremony along with the other Team USA athletes. The guard posted videos on her Instagram story showing the contingent on their boat as they went cruising on the Seine, past the Eiffel Tower, led by flag bearers LeBron James and Coco Gauff.

Although this is her first Olympics as a 3x3 player, Hailey Van Lith has been associated with it since 2018, when she participated in the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has won three gold representing USA in 3x3 games and one gold playing in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” she said about her Paris trip (via The Seattle Times). “You never know if this chance will come again, so I’m going to treat it like it’s the only one I’m going to get," she added.

Hailey Van Lith remembers basketball legend Kobe Bryant while preparing for the Olympics

Hailey Van Lith shared a close bond with Kobe Bryant, as he was her mentor and she trained alongside his daughter, Gigi Bryant. Their connection began during her high school days, when the Lakers legend noticed the guard's incredible talents.

Kobe watched one of Van Lith's games for Team USA and was impressed. He invited her to train while also being a role model for Gigi. When talking to reporters during the Olympics press conference, Hailey Van Lith remembered him and said:

"Even after his passing, he's continually showed up for me when I needed to hear from him. Seen a lot of things lately that really just hit hard on what he did for me and what he did for my career.

"Anytime I feel that I start to doubt where I'm at or what I'm doing, I'm just reminded of Kobe's undeniable desire to play and be great and he saw some of himself in me and so that's an honor and yeah, I'm going to do my best to be authentic to myself because that's what he would want me to do."

The 3x3 competitions were first introduced during the Tokyo Olympics and Team USA won gold. Hailey Van Lith and her teammates will be hoping for the same as they first take on Germany on July 30.

After the Olympics, Hailey Van Lith will prepare for her final college season debut with the TCU Horned Frogs.

Do you think Van Lith can win her first gold at the Olympics? Let us know in the comment section below.