Louisville players show support for Jeff Walz and program after Hailey Van Lith's transfer

The Louisville's women's basketball team may have lost star guard Hailey Van Lith to the transfer portal, but the Cardinals aren't panicking. Olivia Cochran made that clear.

The junior forward took to Twitter on Saturday morning to defend head coach Jeff Walz and the state of his program after someone on the social media outlet alluded to the program being in trouble following the news of Van Lith's departure.

"Nothing is going on life is great over here!" Cochran posted, in response to the Tweet. "Before y'all start talking crazy please don't be coming for my coach or my team! Watch what y'all say (for real) I'm not even playing or with games today."

When another Twitter user told her that she "better not be going anywhere," Cochran made it clear she had no intention of doing so. "This is my home," she said.

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Van Lith and Cochran were both part of the 2020 recruiting class and two of U of L's most productive players this season. Van Lith averaged 19.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game, while Cochran averaged 8.4 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Following the Cardinals' Elite Eight loss to Iowa on March 27, Van Lith referred to Cochran as one of her best friends on the team.

"This is our third year together and I've just seen her grow every single year," Van Lith said. "She is a fighter. Whatever obstacle in regular life and (the) basketball world comes her way, she's just always on top."

With Van Lith gone, Cochran is the most experienced returning player for the Cardinals. She's expected to be part of a returning core that includes junior Merissah Russell (4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds) and freshman Nyla Harris (4.2 points, 3.6 rebounds).

But with no commitments coming from the 2023 recruiting class, Walz will have to reinforce the roster with the transfer portal. He added former California guard Jayda Curry (15.5 points, 3.5 assists per game in 2022-23) earlier this month and picked up former Georgia Tech guard Eylia Love in January.

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Reach Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Alexis_Cubit.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Hailey Van Lith transfer portal news: Louisville players on Jeff Walz