Louisville Women’s Basketball is taking March Madness by storm! For the first portion of the men’s and women’s tournaments, the unprecedented No. 15 St. Peter’s Peacocks and Doug Edert’s mustache stole the show. But with them recently losing to North Carolina, the attention has shifted to the women’s division where Hailey Van Lith and the Louisville Cardinals pulled out a huge win over Michigan to advance to the Final Four. 

The game was exciting throughout, as the Cardinals pulled away at the end and won 62-50. Although they are a No. 1 seed, defeating Michigan was far from an easy task. But Louisville was able to get the job done. However, Van Lith found herself trending after a tremendous on-court performance and postgame interview.  

On the court, she led Louisville to victory with 22 points on 9-15 shooting, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. 

Van Lith had reportedly been close with Kobe Bryant and his daughter, and she was asked what Bryant might have said to her had he been able to witness her incredible performance. And Van Lith kept it very real in her response. 

“He would say, ‘Go f-ing win this s**t, Hailey.’ That’s what he’d say. ‘We’re not done.’”

Her NSFW response might have shocked many, but Kobe Bryant was never shy about speaking in blunt terms. And Van Lith seems to have a similar Mamba Mentality.

Hailey Van Lith and Louisville have certainly been a great story all season long and they will look to continue their success as March Madness rolls on.