While the Sky rolled out the digital red carpet for HVL— Angel Reese’s former LSU teammate — with a sparkling “Meant to be🩵” on X, not everyone was sipping the same Kool-Aid — except maybe ESPN, who seemed downright drunk on it. Courtside’s Rachel DeMita perfectly captured the growing skepticism: “I’m just not sure how this team is going to gel together.” That unease only intensified when ESPN’s projected starting five hit the scene. If it holds, it could mean benching 2 WNBA champions, including the Sky’s own former franchise PG. And fans? They’re not staying quiet about it — they’re lighting up the conversation.

So, how did the drama start? Well, while Angel Reese was hyping up the Windy City with an Instagram story — “Chicago, we on the way 🥳” — ESPN casually dropped their projected starting five for the Sky’s 2025 season opener. The lineup? HVL, Banham, Onyenwere, Reese, and Cardoso. The jaw-dropper? No Ariel Atkins. No Courtney Vandersloot. 

That bold prediction didn’t sit well with fans, and the controversy erupted when a tweet from a Caitlin Clark fan caught fire. “ESPN doesn’t think Courtney Vandersloot or Ariel Atkins are starting for the Sky. This is insanely bad analysis,” they tweeted.

Because, yes, let’s keep it real—no 11th overall pick has ever been handed a starting role right off the bat in the WNBA. Want proof? Look no further than Sydney Wiese, picked 11th by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017. She spent her rookie year coming off the bench. Or take Aaliyah Edwards, selected 6th overall in 2024 by the Washington Mystics, who spent much of her rookie season alternating between starting and bench duty, depending on the team’s needs.

And just like that, the debate exploded across social media, with fans calling out ESPN for over-hyping the rookie while undervaluing the veteran champions who had already proven themselves on the biggest stages.

Fans React to ESPN’s Analytical Miss 

The fan outrage on X was swift and unrelenting, with each reaction peeling back layers of ESPN’s misstep. One fan summed up the general mood perfectly:
“Ridiculous. HVL will be lucky to get any playtime, honestly. Maybe 8–10 minutes at best.”

And they might be onto something. If history’s any guide, rookies drafted 11th overall from 2019 to 2024 haven’t exactly lit up the box score. Here’s a quick look:

Brianna Turner was the standout in 2019, averaging 15.9 minutes per game. In 2020, Kitija Laksa was waived before even making her debut. Aaliyah Wilson saw 8.5 minutes per game in 2021, while Kierstan Bell in 2022 averaged just 5.8 minutes. The trend continued in 2023 and 2024, with Abby Meyers and Marquesha Davis each logging only 4.0 minutes per game. Average? Just 6.36 minutes per game. So, unless Hailey Van Lith can defy the laws of WNBA rookie development, starting her over vets like Courtney Vandersloot or Ariel Atkins would probably net her the max of 16 minutes if she plays well.

Another fan said what many were thinking:
“That’s crazy. I’m over here trying to figure out who’s going to be the 5th starter with these four: Vandersloot (PG), Atkins (SG), Reese (PF), Cardoso (C)…??”

This fan was clearly not taking ESPN’s prediction with even a pinch of salt. As per them, Vandersloot, Atkins, Reese, and Cardoso are locks for the starting lineup, leaving only the small forward spot up for grabs. Rebecca Allen could be a good grab here, alongside Reese and Cardoso, which makes the inclusion of Banham and Onyenwere as baffling as Vandersloot’s inclusion. Allen has positioned herself as W’s premium role player in the past four seasons. And while injuries remain a concern, one just cannot argue against her upward trend in three-point percentage and ability to guard almost anyone. After the Allen-for-Allen swap, many predicted her to either start at 3.

Then came the roast session:
“ESPN needs a complete overhaul of their WNBA writers and commentators. It’s embarrassing.”
Well, this taps into recurring frustration with ESPN’s WNBA coverage, which fans often perceive as lagging behind the league’s growing complexity. Harsh? Maybe. But when your mock lineups cause chaos before tip-off, the backlash writes itself. Considering the blockbuster trades during the 2025 offseason, more nuance was required. So, ESPN is likely projecting experimental lineups for the opening week—perhaps even relying on inside whispers, as another fan pointed out, “I’m convinced ESPN is now written by AI. Love HVL, but as a starter right away??”.

Another fan broke it down smartly, zeroing down on the intent:
“They traded away the #3 pick for Atkins & brought Sloot back on the premise she’d be a meaningful & valued part of the team. They’ll start over HVL & Onyenwere—at least to start the season.”

Makes sense. Early season is chemistry-testing time. Reese, HVL, and Cardoso already have a built-in synergy from college and All-Star circuits. If it clicks, Sky’s got a trio that could cause damage down the stretch. Also, GM Jeff Pagliocca is perhaps looking to test HVL’s adaptability, a trait that he admires greatly. “I’d say her biggest skill is her ability to adjust, adapt and still come out on top,” Pagliocca had said.

And then came perhaps the spiciest take of all:
“There’s no way in hell Vandersloot is coming off the bench… If that’s the case, she should’ve stayed in NY. This is horrible analysis.”

Well, we understand the emotion. Vandersloot’s return was supposed to be a homecoming, not a demotion. Her Liberty stint proved her starting caliber. After all, she started 31 games for them despite having a low year. Add Ariel Atkins into the mix and just imagine the duo’s synergy!

And maybe even ESPN realized the misstep because their website says something else now.