Cameron Brink & Stephen Curry’s Sister Disagree Over Caitlin Clark’s NBA All-Star Snub as Personal Texts Come to Light

It was just a casual chat and then one thing led to another. WNBA star Cameron Brink and Stephen Curry’s sister, Sydel Curry-Lee, got into a spirited debate on the Straight to Cam podcast about Caitlin Clark’s decision to skip the NBA All-Star Weekend’s 3-point contest. The deeper of it had to do with what seemed like a personal choice actually being about a larger story: the balance between individual priorities and pushing women’s basketball forward.

Cameron Brink, who’s been close with Caitlin Clark for years, stood firmly by her friend’s decision. Brink acknowledged the crazy schedule Clark has to balance and stressed the need to take breaks. “She needs a break”. Giving a little insight into how hard Clark works, she said, “I’m always texting her, saying, You need to take a vacation for three months!”

But Curry-Lee had a different take. While she respected Clark’s choice, she felt skipping the event was a missed opportunity for the WNBA. “The goal is always to get more eyes on the W. Yeah, obviously, I think it would have been good if Caitlin had done it too this year, but she already has so many eyes on her as it is,” she explained.

Clark’s team later confirmed that she turned down the NBA’s offer because she wanted to focus on making her first WNBA 3-point contest debut at the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis. She told reports that she likes in-game shooting situations: catch and shoot or off the dribble — and not the NBA’s contest, which is a stationary rack format. That decision aligns with her belief in growing the WNBA by focusing on its primary events.

Cameron Brink also shared more about Clark’s lifestyle, emphasizing her dedication to the game. “She likes to have a good time; she seems like the type of person who’s always on the go. She’s definitely always in the gym, working her butt off,” she said. Brink then shifted the conversation and posed a very thought provoking question. “Why can’t an NBA player play in the WNBA?”

Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark: A friendship built on Basketball and Mutual Respect

Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink go way back. Their friendship began in their teens when they shared a room at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Thailand. The two bonded on that court that they never wavered from as they went from high school stars to WNBA pros: Clark once called Brink “my homie” — a simple phrase that sums up their journey together in the game.

Their friendship has been marked by plenty of support, especially during tough times. When Brink tore her ACL in June 2024, Clark was right there cheering her on. She called Brink “a good basketball player but an even better person,” showing just how deep their bond runs. And when draft night came around in 2024, they celebrated together—Clark going No. 1 to the Indiana Fever and Brink following at No. 2 to the LA Sparks.

Beyond the court, their encouragement for each other never stops. Brink has called 2024 “the best year ever” for Clark, while Clark has shown just as much love for Brink’s work off the court, including her community-driven “Next 22” youth camps.

At the heart of their relationship is a desire to put women’s basketball on the rise. Brink is advocating for inclusive fandom and youth development programs and Clark is playing her part by committing to WNBA specific events such as the upcoming 2025 All Star 3 point contest. That bond is evidence that sports friendship aren’t always about competition, but about progress, growth and greater notoriety of the game they love.