Before she became one of the Premier Volleyball League’s top stars, Brooke Van Sickle spent her early years honing her craft alongside some of the best athletes in the world — including WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Sabrina Ionescu.
As former classmates and fellow athletes at the University of Oregon, Van Sickle and Ionescu pushed each other in their respective sports. And now, years later, Ionescu couldn’t be prouder of what her fellow Duck has accomplished.
“Obviously, being able to see how she’s done in her career is really inspiring as well,” said Ionescu during her media availability at The Peninsula Manila, part of the Philippine stop on her first Asia Tour.
Ionescu, a game-changer for women’s sports, made history at Oregon, setting the NCAA record for career triple-doubles before becoming the top overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty.
Despite her own remarkable achievements, she acknowledged that Van Sickle’s journey from Oregon to the Philippines is just as inspiring.
Since arriving in the Philippines last year, Van Sickle has made a significant impact in the Premier Volleyball League.
Hailing from Hilo, Hawaii, the 5-foot-9 outside hitter — who traces her roots to San Emilio, Ilocos Sur — joined Petro Gazz in early 2024.
And she wasted no time making her presence felt, not just within the team but across the Philippine volleyball scene.
She introduced herself in dominant fashion, leading Petro Gazz to the 2024 PNVF Champions League title while also securing the Tournament MVP award for her stellar all-around play.
Van Sickle continued to turn heads in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, spearheading the Angels’ bronze-medal campaign and earning her first PVL MVP award.
Without a doubt, she has emerged as one of the most impactful players in Philippine volleyball today, inspiring young athletes and leaving a lasting mark on the sport — all in just over a year.
It’s a journey reminiscent of Ionescu’s own impact.
The 27-year-old sharpshooter and the 26-year-old do-it-all spiker were batchmates at Oregon, both joining the program in 2016. Ionescu recalled how they navigated their early years together, adjusting to the demands of college athletics.
“Yeah, we came in together at Oregon. So it’s been, you know, we were able to kind of go through that learning period together,” shared Ionescu.
While they played different sports, they shared the same drive — to constantly improve and make an impact in their respective fields.
“And, you know, obviously it’s just women’s sports in general and wanting to push that in any way that you can. Obviously, she played volleyball and I played basketball, but we shared an arena,” said Ionescu.
“So I think that’s something that kind of grew us as teams together.”
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