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The former WNBA star, Angel McCOUGHTRY, made critical comments on the recruit of Chicago Sky Hailey Van Lith on the former social media of the women’s basketball player.
McCoughtry suggested in a recent podcast interview that Van Lith may not have been examined in the WNBA if she had no big social media. Van Lith was one of the most followed collegial athletes on social networks. It has 1.3 million followers on Instagram only.
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File – The Chicago Heaven Guardian, Hailey Van Lith (2), moves the ball on the field in the second half of a basketball match of the WNBA exhibition against Brazil in Baton Rouge, in Louisiana, on May 2, 2025. (AP photo / Gerald Herbert, file)
“If Hailey Van Lith had 10,000 subscribers, would she be in the league? Let me ask you,” said McCoughtry on “The Daily W.” “Honestly. We are talking about her real talent. Remove her disciples. Would she be in the League if she had only 10,000 subscribers?”
“Hailey Van Lith is a decent player,” added McCoughtry. “Are there players who can be better than Hailey Van Lith? I think it is not popular.”
Van Lith was a solid guard for Louisville at the start of his collegial career. She collected an average of 15.4 points and 2.5 assists with the cardinals from 2020 to 2023. He was transferred to LSU and played with Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow and again transferred to end her college career with TCU, which she led to a waste of the NCAA tournament.
September 23, 2013; Atlanta, GA: Atlanta’s dream guard Angel McCOUGHTRY (35) reacts to the play against Washington’s mystics during the second half to Philips Arena. (Dale Zanine-USA today Sports)
Liberty Center Jonquel Jones over 4 to 6 weeks with the ankle
As McCoughtry’s comments were dissected on social networks during the week, she apologized during a live Instagram session during the weekend.
“Just that you all know, I know that I am not a hateful. I never hated anyone and these words never come out my mouth,” she said, via CBS Sports. “Now, my error that I made was to give a point with the bad delivery. I should not have used a certain player to make an example of a point that I was trying to do. And I want to apologize for it.
“I can take responsibility when I am wrong, so I’m going to apologize to Hailey for that. You have worked hard for everything you have, and more. More. And it’s all players.”
McCOUGHTRY also played in Louisville before being the overall choice n ° 1 of the 2009 draft by the dream of Atlanta. She played 10 seasons with The Dream, two for the Las Vegas Aces and one more with the Minnesota Lynx. She was fivefold All-Star and the recruit of the year of the 2009 WNBA.
Hailey Van Lith poses with WNBA commissioner, Cathy Engelbert, after being selected with the overall choice number-Eleven in the Chicago sky during the WNBA 2025 draft at the hangar at Hudson Yards. (Images of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn)
Van Lith has been limited to a bench role during his recruited season so far. It has an average of 5.1 points and 1.5 assists per game in 10 games.
