Hailey Van Lith's huge net worth, Kobe Bryant friendship, relationship with Caitlin Clark

Basketball star Hailey Van Lith has made a strong start to the new college season - and has connections to some of the sports biggest icons.

Van Lith , 23, transferred from LSU to Texas Christian University earlier this year after choosing not to declare for the WNBA draft .

It was the second time the former five-star prospect had entered the transfer portal, having twice made the All-ACC team during her time in Louisville before switching to reigning NCAA champions Louisiana in 2023.

A change of position at LSU saw Van Liths stats drop off but the guard has been transformed at the Horned Frogs, recently scoring a career-first double-double .

While she may not be a WNBA player, the US Olympic bronze medalist is already worth seven figures and has formed friendships with Kobe Bryant and Caitlin Clark during her basketball career.

New York Liberty could beat Indiana Fever to next Angel Reese after WNBA Draft trade Furious Caitlin Clark makes her feelings clear on return trip to Iowa Van Lith has spent years near the top of various prospect lists and boasts 1.2million followers on Instagram.

The 23-year-old can make money through 'Name, Image and Likeness' brand deals as a college athlete.

The TCU guard has a growing portfolio of sponsorship deals, striking agreements with big-name brands such as Adidas, LaCroix, Apple Cash and many more.

According to On3 , her long list of NIL sponsors is worth an estimated $779k annually at market value.

Van Liths exact net worth is unclear, but On3 places her value between $1million and $5million, which is also influenced by her teams success on the court.

Van Lith struck up an unlikely friendship with basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi shortly before their tragic deaths.

In 2019, on the USAs run to winning the U18 World Cup, Van Lith received an unexpected message from one of Bryants team.

The text was from one of Kobes main guys I called him T, and he just basically said that Kobe knew about me, loved my game and really wanted to get me to L.A.

to work with him and talk about basketball, Van Lith recalled .

I couldnt believe it, that he actually knew who I was and thought I was a good player.

When I later asked him, Why me? he basically said the way I play, my work ethic and mentality on the court, reminded him of himself, and it compelled him to reach out to me.

Speaking about their meeting in a 2022 interview, Van Lith added : Having Gigi there was something that was really cool and just getting the opportunity to mentor her a little bit.

One of the reasons that Bryant had been keen to train with Van Lith was to show her work ethic to budding basketballer Gigi and to learn how Van Liths father managed to train his daughter.

Bryant repaid the favor by flying in for a Cashmere High School game, just two weeks before the NBA icon, his daughter Gigi, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in January 2020.

In 2023, Van Lith was involved in an alleged rivalry with new WNBA star Caitlin Clark.

A 97-83 clash between Iowa and Louisville saw Van Liths Cardinals defeated in the Elite Eight.

However, Clark's you cant see me hand gesture during the game was perceived as a slight towards Van Lith and fuelled the idea of a feud between the pair.

It was actually hilarious because right after the game I texted her and I was like, The media is dumb.

Im sorry, you guys have no idea, Van Lith said , admitting she missed the incident at the time.

They just make stuff up and then they just put it all over the internet and everyone thinks its true.

"Like, its just hilarious.

We were laughing about it because she did it to her strength coach.

She didnt do it to anyone on our team, especially me.

Definitely not toward me.

People have speculated and said it on social media, Was it to Hailey? "And Ive just never answered because who cares? This is my first time.

Im clearing it up, guys.

Caitlin Clark did not do this to me, and if she did that wouldve been hilarious and we wouldve laughed about it, too.

Its not that serious..

This article has been shared from the original article on themirror, here is the link to the original article:

https://www.themirror.com/sport/basketball/hailey-van-lith-net-worth-816367