WNBA star Cameron Brink has surprised her followers by disclosing the highly unconventional method her now-fiancé, Ben Felter, employed to initially capture her attention. The Los Angeles Sparks forward, aged twenty-four, has been engaged to Felter since 2024, following their initial meeting during their shared time as students at Stanford University.
The Unorthodox Courtship Method
Rather than adhering to contemporary dating norms, such as sending a direct message on social media platforms like Instagram, Felter opted for a decidedly different strategy. While both were classmates at Stanford—where Brink excelled on the Cardinals' women's basketball team and Felter participated in rowing—he decided to pursue her through a formal email correspondence.
The email, which featured the subject line 'Attempting to mingle,' contained a message that read: 'Hey Cameron, Wanted to chat you up but I think [DMs] are a bit creepy. Not that an email is much better so here's my number.' This digital introduction has since ignited a lively discussion among basketball enthusiasts and social media users alike.
Public Reaction and Social Media Debate
Brink recently shared a screenshot of this original email on TikTok, accompanied by the caption: 'This wasn't supposed to be a love song.' She further posted a separate photograph depicting the happy couple sharing a romantic kiss, with the added note: 'But I guess it is now.'
However, the revelation has not been universally embraced by fans. Many have expressed skepticism, with some even labeling Felter's approach as 'creepy' or excessively formal. One social media commentator remarked: 'So let me get this straight… this man really said, DMs are creepy, and then proceeded to… send an email? Sir. You didn’t avoid the creep allegations, you just upgraded them to corporate level.'
Another observer noted: 'This man really bypassed the entire [DM] era and went straight to professional correspondence. Emailing your crush is either the bravest or most unhinged thing a person can do and it worked.' A third individual pondered: 'Are we debating whether personal emails are charming or creepy compared to DMs?'
Additional criticism emerged, with one user stating: 'Bruh who still uses email to flirt and trying to get women?? He’s too old for technology. Someone better teach him how to use Instagram.'
A Successful Outcome Despite Criticism
Despite the mixed reactions from the public, Felter's unconventional method ultimately proved successful. The couple is believed to have commenced their romantic relationship in 2021, with Felter proposing marriage three years later in October 2024. The proposal occurred on a picturesque rooftop terrace at the luxurious five-star Shangri-La Hotel in Paris, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.
Over the years, Brink and Felter have maintained a relatively private love life, seldom sharing intimate details with the media. Nevertheless, the basketball star did offer a glimpse into her personal preferences during an episode of her 'Straight To Cam' podcast last year. She disclosed that grammatical accuracy is a crucial factor for her in dating, stating: 'Maybe it's the Stanford girl in me, but grammar is very important to me. And if I see something with bad grammar, or someone misspells something, it really irks me.'
This insight into Brink's values perhaps provides context for why an email—a medium often associated with formality and proper communication—might have resonated with her, despite its departure from modern digital dating conventions.
