Photo by: Rachel Klotz | Louisville Athletics
Van Lith Named to Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Midseason Team
February 07, 2023 | Women's Basketball
She is one of 30 players named to the midseason team
ATLANTA — University of Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith has been named to the Jersey Mike's Naismith Women's Player of the Year Midseason Team, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced on Tuesday afternoon. Van Lith is one of 30 players to be named on the midseason team after being named to the preseason watch list back in November.
This is the third midseason watch list that Van Lith has been named to over the past two weeks. Last week, she was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 List and Drysdale Award Top 10 List. Van Lith is one of five players to be named on the Wooden, Drysdale and Naismith midseason lists.
Van Lith leads the Cardinals this season with 19.2 points per game and 3.4 assists per game. She ranks third on the team in rebounds with 5.0 per game. She ranks 15th nationally in points (461), 17th in minutes per game (36.6), 21st in field goals made (166) and 26th in points per game.
In conference games this season, Van Lith has scored 18 or more points in eight ACC games and 20 or more points in seven ACC games. No other player in the conference has higher marks in those categories. In conference games, Van Lith ranks third with 18.7 points per game and seventh with 3.6 assists per game. She is second in the league with a .896 free throw percentage.
She was named ACC Player of the Week on Jan. 16 after her performances on the road against #13 Virginia Tech and Florida State. In the win over the Seminoles, Van Lith had 20 points, eight rebounds and career-high eight assists and five steals while hitting a late shot to seal the victory. She is the only player in the NCAA to have at least 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in a single game this season.
The midseason team will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists in early March. Following those results, four finalists will be named on March 21, 2023, and the winner of the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on March 29, 2023.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
This is the third midseason watch list that Van Lith has been named to over the past two weeks. Last week, she was named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 List and Drysdale Award Top 10 List. Van Lith is one of five players to be named on the Wooden, Drysdale and Naismith midseason lists.
Van Lith leads the Cardinals this season with 19.2 points per game and 3.4 assists per game. She ranks third on the team in rebounds with 5.0 per game. She ranks 15th nationally in points (461), 17th in minutes per game (36.6), 21st in field goals made (166) and 26th in points per game.
In conference games this season, Van Lith has scored 18 or more points in eight ACC games and 20 or more points in seven ACC games. No other player in the conference has higher marks in those categories. In conference games, Van Lith ranks third with 18.7 points per game and seventh with 3.6 assists per game. She is second in the league with a .896 free throw percentage.
She was named ACC Player of the Week on Jan. 16 after her performances on the road against #13 Virginia Tech and Florida State. In the win over the Seminoles, Van Lith had 20 points, eight rebounds and career-high eight assists and five steals while hitting a late shot to seal the victory. She is the only player in the NCAA to have at least 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and five steals in a single game this season.
The midseason team will be narrowed down to 10 national semifinalists in early March. Following those results, four finalists will be named on March 21, 2023, and the winner of the 2023 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Women's Player of the Year will be announced on March 29, 2023.
ABOUT THE ATLANTA TIPOFF CLUB
Founded during the 1956-57 season, the Atlanta Tipoff Club is committed to promoting the game of basketball and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of those who make the game so exciting. The Atlanta Tipoff Club administers the Naismith Awards, the most prestigious national honors in all of college and high school basketball. Named in honor of Dr. James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball, the family of Naismith Awards annually recognizes the most outstanding men's and women's college and high school basketball players and coaches. Other Naismith Awards are presented to the men's and women's college basketball defensive players of the year, as well as lifetime achievement awards to basketball officials and outstanding contributors to the game. UCLA's Lew Alcindor received the first Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy in 1969, while the late Anne Donovan (Old Dominion) was the inaugural women's recipient in 1983. Corporate partners of the Naismith Awards include Jersey Mike's and Werner Ladder.
Players Mentioned
WBB: Elif Istanbulluoglu & Laura Ziegler Postgame Presser (Virginia 2/22/26)
Sunday, February 22
WBB: Jeff Walz Postgame Presser (Virginia - 2/22/26)
Sunday, February 22
WBB: Jeff Walz Postgame Presser (Florida State - 2/15/26)
Monday, February 16
WBB: Florida State Highlights (2/15/26)
Monday, February 16










