The difference is Skip Bayless to my knowledge never was a professional athlete. Brandi Chastain was a professional athlete. Hope's comments tried to make Brandi seem like she doesn't know what she is talking about. Brandi played. Brandi knows good defending when she sees it. Unfortunately, Hope's group will never match the 99ers. Hope knows it too. Hope's group has two Olympic Gold medals (without three Carli Lloyd goals they might have nothing). Brandi has two Olympic Gold medals, two World Cup medals, and a Bronze Olympic medal. Hope also realizes her fifteen minutes of Fame are just about up.
One doesn't have to be or been a profesional athete to comment on the pros/cons of an athletes' performances, it doesn't lessen their validity. One just needs to an indepth understanding of said sport. One doesn't have to have played at the professional level to understand or be qualified to speak about a performance.
You don't have to have been a pro athlete, no. But on the inverse, it's awfully difficult to say an experienced pro doesn't know the game.