Q&A: Cameron Brink on Paige Bueckers potentially winning a title, March Madness and more

Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink knows that women aren’t just capable of meeting expectations; they can defy them.

Brink will start her second season in the WNBA in May and has continued elevating her status as an athlete on and off the court. In the offseason, she joined the roster of Unrivaled athletes and will play in 2026 for the new 3×3 league. Brink also has a budding podcast, Straight 2 Cam, and has added more partnerships to her portfolio, including Optimum Nutrition.

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Her partnership with ON includes a new campaign, “Pretty Damn Good,” which celebrates the stories of female athletes and women’s empowerment. Brink shared more about the partnership with For The Win as she prepares for the season and beyond. “I would say I am really lucky to be partnered with them in the first place,” she told For The Win.”They took a chance on me in college and worked with me through NIL. So, I’m just really thankful that they wanted to keep working with me through my professional career. I think the campaign I did with them was honestly just a really fun, refreshing way to show the media their support for women in sport … We’re more than just pretty damn good … “Ahead of Brink’s sophomore WNBA season, For the Win chatted with her about defying expectations as a woman in sports and all things basketball, including the current women’s March Madness tournament and what she thinks about USC’s Kiki Iriafen and UConn superstar Paige Bueckers.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

You have a campaign with Optimum Nutrition called “Pretty Damn Good.” What does that mean to you?

I think it means shattering expectations and … just doing things for yourself ― blocking out the noise. Yeah, and just pursuing what you know you’re capable of. So, I’ve been lucky enough to be raised by two really amazing people and a really strong mom.

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And they both play basketball, so they definitely raised me knowing that I’m capable of whatever I wanna do. So, doing that campaign with them meant a lot to me.

Let’s talk some hoops. Do you think Unrivaled shifted women’s basketball?

I definitely think it did. I think [Napheesa Collier] and [Breanna Stewart] did a great job of just giving us all a really special opportunity, and, obviously, alongside Phee and Stewie, everyone that made it happen. I know we all have a really amazing trainer, Susan King Borchardt.

She works so hard to give us great recovery tools and people to work with. And our whole training staff … it just was a really great way to keep us in the United States, pay us fairly and really well … I think a lot of people got closer to each other on other teams. So, I’m excited to be more of a part of it next year and not just be there for a couple [of] weeks at a time.

What’s it like to have Kelsey Plum as your WNBA teammate?

I look up to Kelsey [Plum] so much … I was lucky enough to train with her while I was still in high school going into college. So we both have the same trainer, Susan King Borchardt … just seeing how hard she works from a young age to seeing her have success through the pros, winning championships ― knowing it’s always felt like she’s had my back.

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You know, it’s kind of like whoever works with Susan ― it’s kind of like the sisterhood because she kicks our butts … Kelsey’s just a really great teammate, and she’s gonna elevate the level of play for everyone. So, we’re excited to have her.

What do you think about USC’s KiKi Iriafen and her success so far this year?

I think it’s just her showing off her hard work. She’s a very hard worker, and she’s a great teammate. And I miss playing alongside her. I think we definitely built such a respect for each other.

So, I’m just proud to see her doing her thing. I feel like they’ll go far. She’s a really, really solid person and player inside and out.

Will Paige Bueckers’ UConn legacy change if she doesn’t win a championship before going to the WNBA?

Oh, I don’t think so … I think she’s definitely proven who she is. As a player, her accolades are unmatched … I just want her to end up in a good place after the season, and I’m always rooting for her. She’s a close friend of mine. Her, Azzi [Fudd] … I’ve played with them before in USA Basketball. So, I’m just rooting for them …

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I don’t think winning a championship though should affect your legacy. I think it only adds to it, but I don’t think not winning one takes away from what you’ve done.

Can you share the best part of creating a podcast?

I think there’s been so many cool things, but the best is definitely doing it with my godsister, Sydel Curry Lee. She’s a very special person in my life. I mean, she’s known me my whole life. So, it’s really cool to be able to create something together and show off our authentic selves, which is just super fun …

Hopefully, we just keep doing it in the future together. And honestly, we’ve had so many amazing guests, too — a lot of more fun stuff to come.FTW: What’s been the hardest part of being a podcaster?I think hearing your voice back. I think I’m not used to hearing myself talk that much, and it’s just weird. So, hopefully, I get used to that soon.

You were one of the best dressed at the 2024 WNBA Draft. Whose fashion has your eye for 2025?

I would have to say my girl, Kiki [Iriafen]. I hope she comes out with just some glamazon dress because she cleans up so nice. I’m excited to see what she comes out with.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Cameron Brink talks Paige Bueckers, March Madness and podcast