“HVL.” Angel Reese posted that after her former LSU teammate Hailey Van Lith sent TCU to their first trip to the Elite Eight. But it was more than just another win for Van Lith. She became the first player in NCAA history, male or female, to reach the Elite Eight with three different programs—Louisville, LSU, and, now, TCU. Her capacity to thrive under pressure has made her a nightmare for opposing head coaches, and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley is no exception as she readies her team for a possible showdown with TCU in the Final Four.

After guiding the South Carolina Gamecocks past Duke in a grueling victory to guarantee yet another Final Four berth, Staley didn’t shy away from discussing her potential opponents. “If it’s Texas, we’re gonna muck it up like we do in the Southeastern Conference.” she declared confidently.

However, she expects a clash with TCU would assuredly be an offensive spectacle. As Staley is well aware of what Van Lith and company are capable of unleashing.

Van Lith’s performance against Notre Dame was unbelievable. She took over the game with the score tied at 52 early in the fourth, then scored 12 of her 26 points in those final moments to send TCU to victory. Her clutch shooting and solid defense turned a good team into a historic one. After the match, TCU HC Mark Campbell couldn’t contain his excitement about the performance: “That game was unbelievable. That’s what March Madness is all about,” He said.

Why Dawn Staley’s concerns about Van Lith are real

Van Lith was doing more than just putting up points against Notre Dame. She was doing everything on the court. Along with her 26 points, she had 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and made several crucial defensive plays that swung the game in TCU’s favor. A pivotal steal and block sequence swung the momentum when it mattered most. With the game almost over, Van Lith hit a clutch three-pointer to give TCU a six-point lead. Which all but ended Notre Dame’s championship hopes.

Mark Campbell could not have been more proud. “I thought offensively Hailey really carried us in the second half,” Campbell said. “Survived to play another game and compete on Monday night for a chance to go to a Final Four.” This statement perfectly describes how important Van Lith’s performance was.

However, her impact goes beyond one game. Throughout the year, she has been the engine that drove TCU, breaking records and earning the name “Miss March” from Coach Campbell. Van Lith has been a constant source of poise and leadership, leading TCU to heights it’s never reached before.

Meanwhile, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina isn’t new to these high-pressure situations. She knows all too well what Van Lith is capable of. After all they’ve won three national titles under her leadership.

Van Lith is a nightmare to prepare for because of her ability to show up in big moments and lead her team under pressure. With TCU’s record-breaking run, Staley’s locker room message will be the defense, focus, and mental toughness needed to slow down Van Lith’s dominance. So, now the question is, can Van Lith repeat her heroics one more time as Monday’s Elite Eight bout approaches? Will she be the player to strike fear into South Carolina or will Staley’s team prevail?