After securing consecutive gold medals, Team USA faced heightened expectations. Washington native Hailey Van Lith entered the Women’s 3×3 basketball tournament with high hopes, but this year, luck wasn’t on their side.
Despite returning home with a bronze medal, Van Lith has been showered with praise from fans for her determination, while most of her teammates take a well-earned break.
Recently, the former LSU star enthusiastically announced that she had completed her master’s degree. However, there was a notable absence in the celebratory moment—Van Lith’s boyfriend.
Dressed in an elegant brown top and long skirt, Van Lith posed proudly for the camera, holding her master’s degree. In the final two photos, she stood alongside her parents, Jessica and Corey Van Lith.
Sources reveal that her mother, Jessica, co-owns Van Lith Developments and Excavations, having transitioned from a career in interior design to business.
Van Lith may have inherited her athletic prowess from her father, Corey, a former baseball player.
Though he never pursued a professional career, Corey saw his daughter’s potential in basketball early on, taking her to practice at John Newberry Gym. From there, Van Lith’s basketball journey has been unstoppable.
As a valuable player for every team she has joined, Van Lith has made her country proud by winning multiple gold medals on the international stage. Her commitment to education hasn’t wavered, even as she juggled her athletic achievements.
Yet, her boyfriend, Jalen Suggs, was conspicuously absent from the recent celebratory photos. Could this suggest a breakup?
Jalen Suggs, 23, currently plays for the Orlando Magic. While the timeline of their relationship remains unclear, Van Lith was seen supporting Suggs in New York when he was drafted as the 5th overall pick, and Suggs officially confirmed their relationship on Twitter.
Despite their high-profile careers, the couple has remained intensely private, rarely sharing photos together on social media. In July, Van Lith posted a cryptic message on Instagram, stating, “Alexander and I had a night out together,” which sparked rumors about a potential breakup.
Like Van Lith, Suggs also had his father, a basketball coach, guiding him through his journey to the NBA. His father even coached Oklahoma City Thunder star Chet Holmgren, often compared to Victor Wembanyama. While it’s possible Van Lith and Suggs are still dating, the status of their relationship remains uncertain.
At just 22, Van Lith has already accomplished impressive milestones. She had an exceptional run with the Louisville Cardinals before joining Angel Reese at LSU.
However, she fell short of fulfilling the team’s championship hopes when LSU lost to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite Eight.
Van Lith discussed how her college experience prepared her for the 2024 Paris Olympics. “My college experience definitely helped prepare me a little bit for the Olympics.
How to win in tight situations. How to persevere and be resilient. Those are all things I learned through my NCAA Tournament experience,” she explained.
Now, she’s embarking on a new chapter, joining TCU. “Hopefully, I can continue to apply those lessons. Go Horned Frogs! I really appreciate all the support from you guys,” she added.
With lucrative endorsement deals with Adidas and others, Van Lith’s net worth is now estimated to be over $1 million.
Having given her best in the 2024 Olympics, all eyes are on her as she takes the next step with her new team.
Stay tuned for more updates and catch the next episode of the “Dual Threat Show,” where our host, BG12, interviews Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.
