Former WNBA player Angel McCoughtry recently shared strong opinions about Chicago Sky rookie Haley Van Lith, particularly regarding her followership on social media. During a podcast, she implied that if Van Lith had a smaller audience, around 10,000 followers perhaps, her chances of making it into the WNBA might be slimmer. Van Lith is quite popular, boasting 1.3 million followers on Instagram alone.
McCoughtry questioned the reliance on social media presence as a factor in talent evaluation. She remarked, “To be honest, we’re really just discussing her actual abilities. Are we not considering the true players out there who might not be as well-known?”
Van Lith had a promising start at Louisville, averaging 15.4 points and 2.5 assists before transferring to LSU and then TCU. While she has made a name for herself, her rookie season has seen her mostly on the bench, with averages of 5.1 points and 1.5 assists over ten games.
After her comments stirred conversation online, McCoughtry expressed regret during a live Instagram session, saying, “I absolutely don’t harbor ill feelings towards anyone. I shouldn’t have used a specific player as an example. I want to apologize for that.” She acknowledged that every player works hard for their achievements.
McCoughtry herself was a standout player at Louisville before becoming the first pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. Her career included ten seasons with the Atlanta Dream and various accolades, including being a five-time All-Star.
