Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith (Photo via Getty Images)
In 2023, after three seasons at Louisville, Hailey Van Lith transferred to the reigning National Champion Louisiana State Tigers. It was a huge addition for a team already looking strong to go back-to-back. However, Angel Reese recently opened up about Van Lith’s relationship with her teammates

During Reese’s podcast “Unapologetically Angel,” she revealed that Van Lith was very distant from the rest of the team.

“We weren’t, like, super close. But I was probably one of the closer people with her on the team,” said Reese. “I think she was really distant from everybody else, so I kinda felt bad. So I was like, “let me get close to her and like see who she is” because she was the only white girl on the team. So, I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. I wanted her to feel as comfortable as she could.”

“I think it just wasn’t a good fit for that specific team. She’s an amazing guard that can do so many great things on the court,” Reese continued. “I’ve seen her kill for a long time, and I know she’ll continue to kill. I’ve seen her get her confidence back.”

Of course, striving for such a huge accomplishment as winning back-to-back National Championships can be extremely difficult if the team isn’t on the same page.

 

Angel Reese Is Clearly In The Running For WNBA Rookie of the Year

Not only was Reese an outstanding player while at LSU, but she also produced just as much in her rookie season with the Chicago Sky.

Among rookies, she is second in points per game, first in rebounds, fifth in assists per game, second in steals, fifth in blocks, and second in player efficiency rating.

Of course, she also broke the record for most rebounds in a season and is currently at 446, smashing the previous number set by Sylvia Flowers at 401.

Indiana Fever preseason schedule: How to watch Caitlin Clark and company prepare for 2025 WNBA season

Indiana Fever v Connecticut Sun – Game Two | Joe Buglewicz/GettyImages

 

The Indiana Fever made a franchise-altering decision last season when they selected Iowa guard Caitlin Clark with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. The budding star turned the team around, helping them to the playoffs for the first time in nearly 10 years.

As a result of their success, several high-end free agents wanted to team up with Clark and her teammates. Now, equipped with a complete starting lineup and a solid amount of depth, the Fever are one of the frontrunners for the WNBA Finals.

But before their season officially begins on May 17, they’ll have a trio of preseason contests to play. While two of them are run-of-the-mill exhibition games, one of them is another testament to just how impactful Clark has been during her one year in the league.