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Former WNBA star Angel McCoughtry made important remarks about Chicago Sky rookie Hailey Van Lith over the previous TCU ladies’s basketball participant’s social media following.
McCoughtry urged in a latest podcast interview that Van Lith could not have been checked out within the WNBA if she didn’t have an enormous social media following. Van Lith was one of many most-followed collegiate athletes on social media. She has 1.3 million followers on Instagram alone.
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FILE – Chicago Sky guard Hailey Van Lith (2) strikes the ball down courtroom within the second half a WNBA exhibition basketball recreation in opposition to Brazil in Baton Rouge, La., Could 2, 2025. (AP Picture/Gerald Herbert, File)
“If Hailey Van Lith had 10,000 followers, would she be within the league? Let me ask you that,” McCoughtry mentioned on “The Each day W.” “Truthfully. We’re simply speaking about her true expertise. Take away her followers. Would she be within the league if she solely had 10,000 followers?”
“Hailey Van Lith, she’s a good participant,” McCoughtry added. “Are there gamers on the market who could also be higher than Hailey Van Lith? I imagine so. They don’t seem to be well-liked.”
Van Lith was a stable guard for Louisville at first of her collegiate profession. She averaged 15.4 factors and a pair of.5 assists with the Cardinals from 2020 to 2023. He transferred to LSU and performed with Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow and transferred once more to complete her collegiate profession with TCU, which she led to an NCAA event berth.
Sept. 23, 2013; Atlanta, GA: Atlanta Dream guard Angel McCoughtry (35) reacts to the play in opposition to the Washington Mystics through the second half at Philips Enviornment. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports activities)
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As McCoughtry’s feedback have been dissected throughout social media over the week, she apologized in an Instagram Stay session over the weekend.
“Simply so y’all know, I do know one factor I ain’t is a hater. I ain’t by no means hated on no one and people phrases ain’t by no means come out my mouth,” she mentioned, through CBS Sports activities. “Now, My mistake I made was giving a degree with the flawed supply. I should not have used a sure participant to make an instance of a degree I used to be attempting to make. And I need to apologize for that.
“I can take accountability after I’m flawed y’all, so I’ll apologize to Hailey for that. You labored arduous for all the pieces you’ve got received, plus extra. Plus extra. And that is to all of the gamers.”
McCoughtry additionally starred at Louisville earlier than she was the No. 1 general decide of the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Dream. She performed 10 seasons with the Dream, two for the Las Vegas Aces and yet one more with the Minnesota Lynx. She was a five-time All-Star and the 2009 WNBA Rookie of the 12 months.
Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being chosen with the number-eleven general decide to the Chicago Sky within the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Photographs)
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Van Lith has been restricted to a bench function throughout her rookie season up to now. She is averaging 5.1 factors and 1.5 assists per recreation in 10 video games.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox Information Digital.
