Every team aspires to win the national championship, and for LSU women’s basketball, it’s no different.
The Tigers earned the 3-seed in their region and will take on the 14-seeded Rice Owls.
However, the path to the championship for LSU isn’t an easy one, as it will potentially have to face tough teams such as Iowa, UCLA, Colorado and Louisville in its region.
The Tigers are led by one of the best players in the country, Angel Reese, and had another wonderful season, averaging 19 points, 13 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.
Although she was a big part of the championship run a year ago, players like Alexis Morris and LaDazhia Williams played an important part, too. Morris appeared down the stretch, taking and making tough shots. Williams was a reliable player in games where Reese or Morris were off.
While LSU has a lot of talent on its team, there are still a lot of new faces with little to no tournament experience. For LSU to make another championship run, it’s going to need everyone to play their roles and step up.
Hailey Van Lith
As previously stated, the Tigers aren’t as experienced in the postseason as they were last year, but Van Lith has that experience.
In her three years with the Cardinals, she appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times, including two Elite Eight appearances and a Final Four appearance during the 2021–22 season. Experience is one of the most important elements of winning a championship.
If you have players who are used to the tournament environment and have played big-time games, it reduces the stress on any team. Not only does Van Lith carry a lot of postseason experience with her, but she also performed well in the tournament.
During her tournament run last season at Louisville, she averaged roughly 24.7 points per game and shot 45.7% from the field. She was also named to the Seattle 4 All-Region Team.
This season has been a rollercoaster ride for Van Lith, but if she can continue to play well in the NCAA Tournament, as she’s done her entire career, then it will have a major impact on LSU in the tournament.
Mikaylah Williams
Williams has had a great first season, averaging 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and three assists. These numbers earned Williams Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, and proved that she’s one of the best freshmen in the country.
However, with highs, there are lows, and Williams has been struggling recently. In her last five games, she only averaged 7.2 points on 27% shooting from the field. It’s important to note that Williams was battling a foot injury and missed three games, including two conference tournament games.
Nonetheless, the ability to score the ball for Williams is something that the Tigers need. In addition to putting up roughly 14 points per game, she was also efficient while doing so, shooting 47% from the field and 37% from three.
She also showed off her incredible shot-making ability earlier in the season, as she scored 42 points against Kent State while only missing five shots the entire game.
A lot of games in the postseason come down to who can and who can’t make shots down the stretch when the game is tight. Williams is one of those players who can make those tough shots and score the ball. The Tigers can’t afford to have Williams play badly in the tournament because she is one of the best scorers in the country.
Reese, Aneesah Morrow and Flau’jae Johnson have proven to be the most consistent players on this team, but if players like Williams can prove that the stage isn’t too bright, LSU could be given a much-needed boost in the tournament.
