.png)
7 months ago
43
Barry Bonds’ godfather is Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Patrick Mahomes’ is former Minnesota Twins reliever LaTroy Hawkins, and in the case of WNBA rookie Cameron Brink, the newest member of the Los Angeles Sparks has Dell Curry.
Brink, a 6-foot-4 forward out of Stanford, went second overall in Monday's WNBA Draft behind former Iowa standout Caitlin Clark, who is headed to the Indiana Fever.
But before strutting across the stage in a black-and-white asymmetric gown, Brink got some last-second advice from Dell's sons – Golden State Warriors legend Stephen and Charlotte Hornets guard Seth.
'Actually, I actually FaceTimed Steph like five minutes before the show started,' Brink told reporters at the Brooklyn Academy of Music amid Monday's festivities.
'He just said to just have fun with it. I think he can just share so much great advice because obviously he's been through this, and he just said to make stuff like this fun because it can be stressful. So to make it fun.'
Brink talks to the media during the 2024 WNBA Draft after being picked second by LA
Stephen (left) and Seth (right) Curry have both known Cameron Brink since childhood
Dell Curry and his now-ex-wife Sonya are pictured in 2019 after a game between their sons
The families have known each other since before Brink and the Curry brothers were even born.
Not only were her father, Greg, and Dell Curry teammates at Virginia Tech, but Brink's mother Michelle Bain was college roommates with the future Mrs. Sonya Curry. And although Sonya and Dell divorced in 2021, Cameron has remained close with the Curry brothers.
In fact, Michelle is so familiar with the Stephen, she reaches out to him directly.
'He answered my mom's FaceTime call,' Brink said of the 36-year-old Stephen.
Seth, 33, is a different story.
'I called Seth Curry, as well,' Brink continued. 'He hung up immediately because that's Seth. But then he called back right after.'
Cameron Brink hugs family members after being drafted second overall by the LA Sparks
Cameron Brink looks on during the 2024 WNBA Draft between her parents Greg and Michelle
As Brink sees it, the sharp-shooting Curry brothers are 'both just great sounding boards,' which is certainly helpful as the former Stanford standout enters the professional ranks.
It's also help that both of her parents are in the industry, albeit on the sponsorship side. Both Michelle and Greg Brink are long-time Nike officials with hoops connections everywhere from Cameron's adopted home state, California, to the Netherlands, where she spent a chunk of her childhood.
Cameron Brink hugs her mother Michelle after being picked second overall by LA
Despite this, Brink has forged her own path with a rival sneaker company, New Balance, with whom she's already signed.
'New Balance came to me with,' Brink explained to reporters before noticing Queens Chronicle reporter Lloyd Carroll was wearing a pair.
'I see you're wearing New Balances, by the way,' she noted. 'I love it.'
Having plugged New Balance, Brink moved forward.
'I'm just so thankful for them because they have signed me as their first female basketball player, and they are just a phenomenal brand through and through, what they stand for, how they support their athletes,' she continued. 'I truly cannot be more excited, and I converted for sure.'
Brink's WNBA regular-season debut is slated for May 15, when the Sparks host the Atlanta Dream at the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State.
English (US)