The TCU Horned Frogs have reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in their history and they have the great Hailey Van Lith to thank for yet another strong performance. But following their historic win over Louisville in the Round of 32, Van Lith had some admissions about herself that has the wider basketball world praying for her.
Speaking to the media, Van Lith admitted that she’s had a number of personal struggles with mental health and suicidal ideation through the years.
“The way that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things,” Van Lith said. “When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal, I was heavily medicated, and I felt trapped, and you would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court, but internally, and in life in general, I was ready to be done.
“That’s what I mean when I speak on suffering and pain. It’s like I didn’t even want to live.”
Van Lith said that she wants to use the platform she has now to share her experience with everyone.
“To come from that to this, is incredible, and I have been praying all year like, ‘God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light,’ and I think this is the year and this is the moment that he wants people to know my story and how he has taken me from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life,” Van Lith said. “Even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people.”
TW: Suicidal ideation
Hailey Van Lith spoke candidly about her deep struggles with mental health and how she got to this stage of “loving life” even without basketball
(via @GirimonteNicky) pic.twitter.com/rbiZBlY8En
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2025
Van Lith’s message has received tons of prayers and an outpouring of support from people across the internet:
“Overcoming mental issues to be the best at your craft among your peers Good for her!” one user replied.
“So glad she’s in a better place. Take care HVL,” wrote another.
“a lot of athletes struggle with mental health and hide it. props to her for coming out and talking about it, it isn’t easy to do that,” a third wrote.
Van Lith helped lead TCU to the top of the Big 12 Conference in 2025, leading them to just the second regular season and conference tournament double in school history.
To think that she’s managed to do all of this while battling serious mental health challenges only makes Van Lith all the more special to the sport of basketball.
Related: Hailey Van Lith’s First TCU Team Photos Are Going Viral