Winning feels like it should fix everything. That is the lie we tell ourselves about elite athletes, isn't it? We see the highlights, the NIL deals, and the swagger on the court, and we assume the person inside that jersey is bulletproof.
But for Hailey Van Lith, the reality was much darker.
In early 2025, during a deep March Madness run with TCU, the standout guard did something most superstars avoid. She stopped pretending. After a massive win over her former team, Louisville, she didn't just talk about her jumper or the defensive scheme. She talked about the fact that, just a few years ago, she didn't even want to be alive.
The Hidden Cost of Being the Face of a Sport
Most fans know Hailey as a fierce competitor. She was the face of Louisville, a high-profile transfer at LSU, and eventually the veteran leader at TCU. But the "Hailey Van Lith mental health" conversation isn't just about the stress of a bad shooting night. It’s about a young woman who was "heavily medicated" and feeling "trapped" while the rest of the world was busy buying her jersey.
"You would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court," she admitted in a locker room interview that quickly went viral. "But internally, and in life in general, I was ready to be done."
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Imagine that for a second.
You’re 19 or 20 years old. You’re a McDonald's All-American. Kobe Bryant was your mentor. You have hundreds of thousands of followers watching your every move. On the outside, you are the blueprint for success. On the inside, you are struggling with suicidal ideation so severe that you're just trying to make it to the next morning.
It’s heavy. Honestly, it’s terrifying.
Why Social Media Scrutiny Is Different Now
Van Lith has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager in Washington state. She grew up in the era of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), where your marketability is tied to your public persona. This creates a double-edged sword. The more "famous" you get, the more people feel entitled to tear you apart when you underperform.
When she struggled to find her rhythm at LSU under Kim Mulkey, the internet was ruthless. People who had never picked up a basketball were dissecting her game, her attitude, and her "loyalty."
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Scrutiny isn't new in sports. But the volume and immediacy of it in 2026 is unprecedented. For Hailey, being exposed to this level of media attention at such a young age was the primary catalyst for her mental health crisis. It wasn't just "pressure"—it was a complete erosion of her sense of self.
The Turning Point: Katie Meyer and Seeking Help
Growth usually starts with a wake-up call. For Hailey, that call came in March 2022.
The sports world was rocked by the death of Katie Meyer, the Stanford soccer goalie who died by suicide. Meyer was another high-achieving, seemingly "happy" athlete who was struggling in silence. Van Lith has noted that Meyer’s story was the moment she realized she couldn't keep going the way she was. Her parents were scared. Her friends were scared.
She decided to invest in herself. Not in a new trainer or a shooting coach, but in a sports psychologist who doubled as a traditional therapist.
Breaking the Stigma of "Working Through It"
It’s kinda interesting how we treat physical injuries versus mental ones. If an athlete tears an ACL, we expect them to go to rehab. If they’re depressed, we often expect them to "tough it out" or "stay focused."
Van Lith rejected that. She started prioritizing her well-being over her PPG (points per game). She credits her time at TCU and the support of head coach Mark Campbell for helping her "reclaim her joy." Campbell didn't just want a point guard; he wanted Hailey to be okay with letting people see who she actually was, layers and all.
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Lessons for the Next Generation of Athletes
If you're a young athlete or a fan watching from the sidelines, there are a few big takeaways from Hailey’s transparency. Her story isn't just a "celebrity update"—it's a case study in survival.
- Success Is Not a Shield: You can be at the top of your game and still be in a "dark place." Achievement does not cure depression.
- The Power of a Support System: Hailey often mentions her family, her "sports psych," and her faith as the anchors that kept her here.
- Vulnerability Is a Performance Enhancer: When she stopped hiding her struggle, her game actually improved. At TCU, she set single-season records for points and assists. Turns out, it's easier to play when you aren't carrying the weight of a thousand secrets.
How to Apply This to Your Own Life
You don't have to be a D1 athlete to feel the pressure of "performing" for social media or meeting impossible expectations. Whether it's at work, in school, or just in your social circle, the "trapped" feeling Hailey described is universal.
Practical Steps Based on Hailey's Journey:
- Audit Your Circle: Surround yourself with people who care about the "you" behind the performance. Hailey’s teammates at TCU were a massive part of her recovery because they made her want to show up even after a bad game.
- Professional Help Is an Investment: If you can afford it, find a therapist. If you can't, look for community resources. Hailey "personally invested" in her psychologist because she realized her life depended on it.
- Define Yourself Beyond Your Output: Who are you if your "sport" (or job, or hobby) goes away tomorrow? Hailey reached a point where she could say, "Even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here." That’s the goal.
- Log Off More Often: Scrutiny only has power if you read it. Protecting your peace often means closing the app.
Hailey Van Lith is a reminder that the most important win isn't on the scoreboard. It's the decision to stay. By sharing her testimony, she’s likely saved lives we’ll never even hear about.
Next Steps for Support:
If you or someone you know is struggling, you don't have to carry it alone. You can call or text 988 anytime in the US and Canada to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and available 24/7. Your story isn't over yet.