Web Threads: Anna Camden
10/16/2024
By Christian Gravius, Associate Director of Athletics Public Relations
Web Threads are in-depth, behind-the-scenes stories from those at the heart of Richmond Athletics: student-athletes, staff members, loyal supporters, and more. Web Threads gives a glimpse into the ambitions, motivations, and sacrifices of the individuals who allow Richmond to excel at the highest levels of intercollegiate athletics and academics as well as the philanthropy that supports them every step of the way. Welcome to our web.
It was March 2, 2023. The Penn State women’s basketball team just lost a heartbreaking 63-61 contest to Michigan in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, and senior forward Anna Camden knew she was faced with a decision.
“I had tried not to let myself think about what I was going to do for my fifth year,” said Camden. “The emotions I had after that last game… I think I knew subconsciously that I was leaving. It hit me hard, realizing I played my last game in the blue and white, with a team and for a school I loved and gave four years of my life to.”
After the loss, Camden reflected on her journey up to that point and realized the season-ending loss was likely her last game with the team she had dedicated so much to. Although hesitant to think about the option of taking a fifth year, the loss hit hard, prompting her decision to transfer.
By the end of March, the three-year team captain entered the transfer portal. Within two hours of entering her name, University of Richmond Head Women’s Basketball Coach Aaron Roussell reached out to express his interest in making her a Spider.
Roussell was no stranger to Camden; he had previously recruited her when he was the head coach at Bucknell.
“Coach Roussell was saved in my phone as ‘Aaron Roussell Bucknell’,” she said. “I had some familiarity with him and remember liking him in high school and because of that, there was already an established level of trust.”
Roussell wanted Camden when she was in high school and still wanted her four years later, which she admits meant a lot to her.
Born in Richmond but raised on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Camden felt a strong connection to her new school. “I felt a lot of trust and comfort at Richmond, and I didn’t feel like I was stepping down in any sort of way. The facilities here are incredible, the campus is beautiful, and I knew I would have opportunities here,” she said.
Along with her 6-3 frame and innate shooting ability, Camden also brought her social media presence with her to Richmond.
Initially created for fun during her freshman year, her TikTok account, which now has over 279,000 followers, gained significant traction when a post featuring Nittany Lion student-athletes went viral during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I never saw it becoming what it is,” she admitted. “It was never a dream of mine to be on social media, but when I started to see the impact I was having on little girls and started having people looking up to me, I decided to take it seriously.”
Her social media mission is rooted in authenticity.
“There are times I’ve gotten emotional on the camera and posted it. I show my skin on bad days and when it’s glowing. I also talk about my faith more than anything, which is me being the absolute most authentic I can be.”
The events following her very first on-court experience at Richmond would show Spider fans and her massive following her authenticity in a whole new light.
During Camden’s very first summer workout as a Spider—just hours after she moved her belongings into her new locker— the high-profile transfer who was expected to be an impact player for the Spiders did what every athlete hopes to avoid at all costs.
During Richmond’s first live drill of the year, Camden drove to her left from the top of the key, planted on her left leg and spun back. Immediately, she felt a pop in her knee.
She had torn her ACL.
Camden was quickly ushered to the training room where the team’s athletic trainer, Sara Spencer, assessed her injured knee.
Spencer called over Andy McPherson, the men’s basketball athletic trainer, and the pair – very frankly – told Camden she was going to see a doctor the following day. After a visit to and diagnosis from team physician and 1990 UR graduate Paul Kiritsis, MD, it was clear the following months would not be anything like Camden expected them to be.
While her teammates bonded and practiced together, Camden, who was new to everyone and everything at Richmond, spent most of her time in the training room, away from the team during her early days on campus.
During a challenging and isolating experience, Spencer became an unexpected lifeline for Camden. Having just arrived and not knowing anyone, Camden found herself grappling with fear and loneliness as she faced the first season-ending injury of her career.
“My team is bonding on the court and I’m in the training room,” said Camden. “They’re hanging out on the weekends and I’m at home in bed with my knee propped up on a pillow with an ice pack on it.”
For Camden, Spencer stepped into the role of not just a healthcare provider, but of a friend as well. The two spent countless hours together as Spencer drove her to doctor appointments and explained the surgical process. Alongside McPherson, the athletic trainers quickly became Camden’s support system, helping her navigate the complexities of her injury and recovery.
"Anna is one of the most determined athletes that I’ve ever had,” said Spencer. “The motivation and relentless attitude she brought toward rehab and getting back on the floor was inspiring. Her emotional intelligence to voice her concerns helped us tailor each day to fit her needs and progress through the protocol.”
Camden says more than anything, she’s immensely grateful for the kindness Spencer and McPherson exhibited to her, which went beyond their professional duties. While their primary role was to facilitate her healing, they also provided emotional support, allowed her to listen to her favorite worship music in the training room, and comforted her when she needed to cry. Their compassion made a significant difference in her journey, reminding her that healing is as much about emotional well-being as it is about physical recovery.
Apart from being her support system, Spencer consistently checked Camden’s progress, utilizing data and graphs to track her conditioning and leg motion. The pair made full use of the state-of-the-art resources at Richmond, including HydroWorx water therapy machines, cold and warm tubs, and various conditioning equipment. Their commitment to Camden’s recovery exemplified a partnership that went far beyond the typical athletic trainer-athlete dynamic.
While the athletic trainers stayed committed to her, Camden stayed committed to her team. The 23-year-old continued to train and rehab with intentions to ultimately play her final year of college basketball—just as she had intended to before her injury.
She spent hours working with Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Olympic Sports, Beacher Porter, who developed a training plan to ensure her smooth return to the team once she was fully healed.
During the season, Camden encouraged her teammates from the bench, cheering them on and sharing what she was able to observe from off the court.
Her positive presence contributed significantly as the 2023-24 Spiders enjoyed one of their most successful seasons, capturing the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 regular season title and A-10 tournament championships.
“Basketball aside, Anna is an incredible person,” said Roussell, who enters his sixth season at the helm of the Spiders in 2024-25. “She is a very caring teammate with empathy for everyone on the roster no matter their age or role. She has a natural leadership skill that this team will benefit from throughout the year. I think any time you have a major injury it is going to change you and present growth opportunities to get better. I see a level of confidence and grit from Anna now that has strengthened from her recovery process.”
More than 15 months removed from her injury, Camden’s knee is fully healed and her relationships with her teammates and Richmond are more fully formed. In true Camden fashion, she’s made the entirety of her recovery — her first steps, her first jog, her first basket — accessible to her hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. It’s where she posted her thank-you note to everyone at Richmond and beyond who helped her get through one of the most difficult situations for any student-athlete.
Midway through that post, where she addressed to those “who stuck around when I was down and had nothing to offer them, who checked on me after more than just the first week, who encouraged me through my fear and doubt”, Camden addressed her Spiders support staff:
“To Sara, Beacher, and Andy…you are the best team I could ask for. Thank you for making me laugh through the tears, letting me blare worship music and Taylor Swift in the training room, and being with me every step of the way. Even when you didn’t know if I was ever going to play again, you invested in me, and I will forever be grateful for that.”
Camden’s journey demonstrates her character and shows the importance of a strong support system. Her determination to recover from a serious injury, along with the exceptional athletic training staff, has prepared her to be ready for the 2024-25 season. The combination of hard work, compassion, and expertise, combined with Richmond’s cutting-edge facilities and supportive community, showcases how a collaborative effort between student-athletes, staff, and resources can cultivate a winning culture and personal growth that extends beyond the basketball court.
Camden’s story is just one of the many student-athletes at Richmond whose lives have been impacted by the support of Spider Nation. We are grateful to the loyal supporters who make these resources available to our 400 student-athletes and the opportunities they create for them!
