“The job is not done.” Hailey Van Lith was quite motivated after the 3×3 Team USA found their way into the semifinals. However, tragedy struck the group, and they were out of the gold medal contention. Still, there was one sliver of hope that they could hold on to, and they did! Dearica Hamby, Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard, and Lith brought home a bronze. And there was one person that the TCU star wanted to remember in the tough win– Kobe Bryant. Contrastingly, it was not what the fans had in mind.

After winning the bronze medal over Canada with a 16-13 result, Hailey Van Lith proudly spoke her heart out. She addressed the presser by saying, “I think Kobe would be proud as heck of me for not losing that game. Sometimes you can’t control the outcomes, like that last game. I’m not gonna lie, it was tough. It was a tough situation for us to win it, and we just didn’t soak it in. That’s the Kobe mentality. It’s like ‘f–k it and go out and win the next game.'”

Certainly, Team USA had one tough opening to their Paris Summer Games. The reigning champions kicked off their campaign with three back-to-back losses. These were from Germany, Azerbaijan, and Australia. However, they found their foot and won four straight games to clinch a spot in the semifinals. But next game, Spain would give them a hard blow in the 18-16 overtime defeat. The Team USA fans claimed referees to be the issue. But Hailey Van Lith and Co. still came back to fight for the bronze and took the medal home.

Nevertheless, the fans were not satisfied with the 16-13 over Canada. Especially, when the NCAA star mentioned the 2x gold medalist Kobe Bryant.

Hailey Van Lith finds no support as fans continue to backlash 3×3 Team USA

The TCU Horned Frog star definitely has achieved a huge feat with an Olympic medal. While it is not gold, Hailey Van Lith is now part of an elite group to have an Olympic medal while still in college. Team USA certainly showed off their Mamba mentality and toughness to clinch at least some spot in the top three 3×3 women’s teams. But that was not enough for the basketball loyalists. According to them, the Los Angeles Lakers star was popular for his winning “Mamba mentality,” and a bronze is not exactly it. A Team USA follower mentioned how the NBA legend would have wanted a gold, not a third-place bronze.

“Kobe wouldn’t want nothing but Gold.”

“If you wanted to do it for Kobe you should’ve won gold 😂😂”

Hailey Van Lith had a close-knit relationship with Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant. In fact, the TCU star was in Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy. Hence, as she becomes an Olympic medalist in college, she remembers the teachings of the legend which were about grinding and persevering. Something that the star showed throughout their Paris Olympics campaign. Resonating with the sentiments, a basketball follower mentioned how we can, of course, dedicate our achievements to him.

“All of us who admired and learned from Kobe and we can owe our sucess to him as our example”

Kobe Bryant was as great of a player as he was a coach. Hence, he surely would have motivated his students to win the highest prize possible. Adding a satirical tone to the comment section, basketball followers mentioned how the Laker superstar would have done with Hailey Van Lith’s bronze medal. However, wouldn’t he be proud that Team USA did not simply throw the game?

“Kobe wouldve thrown that medal to the ground and say “Now get a Gold””

“Kobe would’ve chucked that medal into the Seine River”

Great or not, winning a bronze and getting yourself the third spot in the world should definitely be a huge accomplishment. Moreover, seeing Hailey Van Lith making the medal all about her mentor is certainly a refreshing thing to see. Still, looks like she will need to do much better in her final eligibility year in the NCAA to win fans for good.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.