Hailey Van Lith Reveals How She Changed Her Entire Game To Counterbalance Physical Deformity

Hailey Van Lith is the greatest player in March Madness history. She is the only athlete to lead three different women’s college basketball programs to the Elite Eight and played for a bid to the Final Four in all five seasons of her illustrious career.

To make her success even more impressive, the 5-foot-9 combo guard has one leg that is one half-inch shorter than the other. It has a pretty major impact on her game.

Van Lith, a top-10 player in the women’s college basketball recruiting Class of 2020, committed to Louisville out of high school. The Cardinals reached two Elite Eights and one Final Four during her three years with the program.

And then she hit the transfer portal.

Although Hailey Van Lith did not have the same success as a scorer at LSU, the former off-ball guard completely transformed her game as the primary ball-handler while in Baton Rouge and the Tigers reached the Elite Eight. That was four Elite Eights (at least) in four years!

And then she hit the transfer portal again.

Van Lith is having a career year at TCU, averaging 17.9 points on 46% shooting, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. The Horned Frogs advanced to the Elite Eight with a win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday. Their star transfer scored 26 points with nine boards, four assists, one steal and one block. Pretty good.

During a press conference on Sunday, Hailey Van Lith was asked about a unique physical deformity that does not get talked about often. Her teammates had no idea that her left leg is approximately one half-inch shorter than her right!

It is, and it does [effect my game]. There are a lot of physiological issues that I deal with because of it.

My whole right side is stronger and bigger… My hand is bigger, my foot is bigger, my quad is bigger. You can see it if you really look at me— if you’re around me a lot.

— Hailey Van Lith

You can absolutely notice the difference if you look hard enough.

As you could imagine, it plays a role in how she plays.

I definitely always prefer to plant off my right leg. I think fading to my left is a lot more comfortable because the leg is shorter, so it probably doesn’t really touch the ground as much. Just weird things like that.

— Hailey Van Lith

At 23 years old, however, the minor malformation is a nonissue.

I deal with it every day. But at this point in my career, I’m older and I know how to manage my body that way.

— Hailey Van Lith

Sedona Prince was shocked. TCU’s star big asked Van Lith if the slightly larger right side of her body is the reason she is so clumsy. Van Lith denies being clumsy.