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Cameron Brink Didn’t Hesitate When Reacting to Big Hailey Van Lith News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Beren | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 2:01 PM ET

Cameron Brink is returning to a different WNBA from the one she left. After a knee injury ended her rookie season prematurely, her Los Angeles Sparks team stumbled to a franchise-worst 8-32 season, which prompted significant changes around the franchise -- starting with the acquisition of star point guard Kelsey Plum from the Las Vegas Aces.

Ten months after Brink tore the ACL in her left knee, another draft has taken place, and a new team has joined the league. Brink, the second overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is expected to be healthy for the 2025 season; for the new-look Sparks, the campaign begins May 16 against the expansion Golden State Valkyries.

But on May 25, Brink and the Sparks will host the Chicago Sky, which drafted guard Hailey Van Lith with the 11th pick in the 2025 draft. And Brink is ready to give Van Lith her flowers amid a shared achievement off the court.

.@cameronbrink22 and @SydelCurryLee are joined by influencer and hooper @miamast13 on Episode 13 to talk about their favorite #WNBADraft fits (hi @kikiiriafen ), Coachella takes, and much more! ✨ pic.twitter.com/smu3dshRfj
— Straight to Cam (@straight2cam) April 21, 2025

Back in November, it was revealed that Brink posed for Sports Illustrated's 2025 Swimsuit Issue, due out next month. Earlier this month, Van Lith was named the digital cover star for SI Swimsuit, just after she led TCU to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Speaking on her "Straight to Cam" podcast on Monday, Brink praised Van Lith's "fire" shoot and expressed her excitement over the incoming rookie.

"I'm proud of her," Brink told co-host Sydel Curry-Lee and guest Mia Mastrov. "Obviously, her getting drafted to Chicago, my girl is killing the game right now. I just bring that up because I think Sports Illustrated Swim is such an interesting experience. ... Changing in and out of bikinis that quickly is really humbling."

After suiting up for Louisville, LSU and TCU in her NCAA career, Van Lith knows all about adaptation, humility and resilience above all. Van Lith can also turn heads away from the hardwood, as Brink -- herself a style icon -- doubtlessly can respect.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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