In the moments after TCU’s women’s basketball team clinched its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, star guard Hailey Van Lith reflected on her prior mental health struggles, telling reporters she had suicidal thoughts earlier in her career but has now arrived at a “moment of loving life.”

“The way that I got exposed to the media and social media at such a young age, I really struggled with mental health things. When I was younger and in college, I was suicidal, I was heavily medicated and I felt trapped,” Van Lith said in a video captured by Sports Illustrated’s Nick Girimonte after No. 2-seeded TCU’s win over No. 7-seeded Louisville on Sunday. “And you would never know because I was having a ton of success on the court, but internally, and in life in general, I was ready to be done.

“And so that’s what I mean when I speak on suffering and pain,” she continued. “It’s like I didn’t even want to live. So to come from that to this is incredible.”

The 23-year-old from Wenatchee, Wash., scored 16 points and added a game-high 10 assists against her former team in Sunday’s 85-70 victory. A former No. 7 recruit nationally, Van Lith spent her first three collegiate seasons with Louisville, guiding the Cardinals to a Final Four and two Elite Eights.

She transferred to LSU before the 2023-24 season and helped the Tigers make the Elite Eight, though she didn’t quite match the level of success she experienced with Louisville. Facing souring WNBA prospects, Van Lith, who had an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, transferred to TCU for this season. This past summer, she won a bronze medal representing the U.S. in women’s 3×3 basketball at the Paris Olympics.

With the Horned Frogs under coach Mark Campbell, whose roster includes fellow transfers Donovyn Hunter and Taylor Bigby, as well as the core of Sedona Prince and Madison Conner, Van Lith and TCU have had a strong season, claiming the Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles. Van Lith was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Player of the Year and the conference tournament MVP. She also made her first All-America team.

On Sunday, she also shared how her faith has prompted her to open up about her past mental health struggles.

“I’ve been praying all year, like God, I know you’ve given me this testimony to share it with the world and shed your light and I think this is the year and this is the moment He wants people to know my story and how He’s just taken me literally from the depths of wanting to die to this moment of loving life,” she said. “And even if basketball went away today, I truly would want to be here and love these people.”

No. 2 TCU faces No. 3 Notre Dame at 1 p.m. (ET) Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.

(Photo: Amy Kontras / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)