In a surprising move, senior guard Hailey Van Lith is considering a transfer to Mississippi State as she explores her options in the NCAA transfer portal. According to The Next Hoops' Talia Goodman, Van Lith will be visiting Mississippi State this weekend.

This marks Van Lith's second consecutive offseason in the transfer portal. Despite considering declaring for the WNBA Draft, she ultimately decided to stay in college, where her scoring talent has made her a highly sought-after prospect among national championship contenders.

Mississippi State was not initially seen as a likely destination for Van Lith. The Bulldogs finished seventh in the SEC last season with a record of 8-8 (23-12 overall). However, Coach Sam Purcell, with whom Van Lith played for two seasons during his time as an assistant at Louisville, could provide her with an opportunity to make an immediate impact.

Prior to considering Mississippi State, Van Lith also explored potential transfers to Stanford and South Carolina after leaving Louisville for LSU during the 2023-24 campaign. The move to Baton Rouge was seen as a chance to vie for a national championship under Coach Kim Mulkey's guidance.

However, Van Lith faced difficulties fitting into the LSU lineup. As a natural shooting guard rather than a point guard, she struggled to find her scoring rhythm alongside Angel Reese, Flau'jae Johnson, and Annesah Morrow. Consequently, her scoring average dropped from 19.7 points per game at Louisville to 11.5 points per game at LSU. Her 85 turnovers also highlighted her challenges as a distributor.

Van Lith's struggles were particularly evident during the NCAA tournament, where she failed to score more than five points in any of LSU's four games. In their matchups against Rice, Middle Tennessee, UCLA, and Iowa, Van Lith managed to score only three, four, two, and three points, respectively. Additionally, she was tasked with defending Caitlin Clark, who scored 41 points in their Elite Eight showdown.

As Van Lith visits Mississippi State, it remains to be seen if she will choose to transfer to the SEC school. Her potential addition to the Bulldogs roster could be a game-changer, as her scoring prowess and experience playing under Coach Purcell may significantly impact their upcoming season.