Basketball fans react to Haily Van Lith dedicating her bronze medal to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant. [photo: @haileyvanlith, @kobebryant]

"Would have chucked that medal in the Seine": WNBA fans roast Hailey Van Lith for dedicating the bronze to Kobe Bryant

Modified Aug 07, 2024 09:00 GMT

Hailey Van Lith has copped criticism from fans after dedicating her bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics to the late basketball legend, Kobe Bryant.

Van Lith had a solid campaign in her Olympic debut but the Americans were dethroned by Spain in the semifinals. They managed a podium finish by holding off Canada 16-13 in the duel for the bronze medal.

Van Lith said she used Bryant as inspiration to keep going after the semifinal loss:

“I’m not gonna lie, it was tough. It was a tough situation for us to win it and we just didn’t soak in it. That’s the Kobe [Bryant] mentality. It’s like, ‘F**k it and go out and win the next game.”

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Fans on X, formerly Twitter, promptly reacted to Van Lith’s gesture:

“Kobe would’ve chucked that medal into the Seine River,” one said.

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@lakersfrenzy piled it on:

“Kobe would of thrown that s**t out”

One fan pointed out what many probably thought:

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

Another fan kept the same thread going:

“Kobe rolling over in his grave right now from the insult.”

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Team USA had a rough start, losing its first three games, including an ugly 17-13 defeat by Germany, the eventual gold medal winner. Behind the former LSU guard and WNBA star Dearica Hamby, the Americans won their next four games to qualify for the play-in. They beat China for the right to play Spain in the semifinals.

The Americans had a nip-and-tuck battle with the Spaniards before losing 18-16.

Hailey Van Lith has represented Team USA well over the years

Van Lith was the only collegiate player in the USA 3x3 women’s basketball team. After helping the Americans to the 2023 FIBA World Cup gold in Austria, USAB selected her to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

On the biggest international basketball stage, Van Lith could only come up with a bronze medal as Team USA failed to defend its gold.

Still, the failure to win the tournament's top prize should not diminish what she has accomplished for Team USA. Van Lith has won five gold medals representing Team USA. Her seven-point and six-rebound performance against France in the 2023 FIBA World Cup was key for the Americans in winning the championship.

Hailey Van Lith might have another shot at the gold medal four years from now. With Los Angeles hosting the next Olympic Summer Games, she could return with reinforcement.

Perhaps Cameron Brink, the 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP who tore her ACL before Paris, could return for a chance to rule the competition on home soil.