“I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and that’s because I’ve tried to be genuinely intentional about what I’m putting in my body and my routine,” she told me for Business Insider.<\/p>\n
Brink recently gushed over Zoom with me about her favorite strength training exercises<\/a> (Bulgarian split squats) and equipment (a Keiser leg extension machine at her trainer’s house), laughing a little at herself. It’s a level of gym nerdiness that would have been unheard of for her a few years ago.<\/p>\n But “that’s what ACL recovery does to you,” Brink said. Last season marked her return from a 2024 injury, and since then, she’s been all about lifting weights.<\/p>\n \n Every time Gabby publishes a story, you\u2019ll get an alert straight to your inbox!\n <\/p>\n \n Stay connected to Gabby and get more of their work as it publishes.\n <\/p>\n For maximum muscle-building, Brink has also doubled down on optimizing protein<\/a>, partnering with nutrition app MyFitnessPal, which she uses to stay on track.<\/p>\n “Something I never realized is how much protein I actually need,” she said.<\/p>\n At a listed height of 6′ 4″ (Brink said she’s actually an inch taller), getting enough fuel can feel like a full-time job.<\/p>\n “I’m doing things that the average person doesn’t do. So that’s where I really needed to start tracking my protein and my macros. And it really made a huge difference,” Brink said.<\/p>\n The rising star of women’s basketball gave me the rundown on her low-stress approach to food tracking, and what’s on the menu for a typical day in her life.<\/p>\n What an WNBA star eats in a day<\/p>\n Brink’s game plan for good nutrition starts the night before a busy day.<\/p>\n In the evenings, she preps the next day’s breakfast: overnight oats or chia pudding, mixed with protein powder, berries, and honey.<\/p>\n Overnight oats can be a convenient way to start the day with protein and healthy carbs.<\/p>\n rudisill\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The combo is full of carbohydrates for energy<\/a>, including quick-digesting carbs for a short-term boost, along with slower-digesting complex carbs so Brink can stay full and focused on training. Her breakfast also packs in plenty of protein for muscle growth and fiber for gut health<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next up is coffee \u2014 Brink saves it for after the first meal of the day, to help provide more stable energy and prevent a crash later.<\/p>\n “I’ve shifted to having my caffeine after I have my breakfast, which I feel like has made a huge difference,” she said.<\/p>\n![\"GabbyLandsverkpic\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/5d0bb34f2516e9143c4563af.jpeg\")
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