When the roster was released for Miami Metal, one of the first teams within the Pro Cheer League, Hailey D’Lynn Smith wasn’t even in Florida. She was in Texas, refreshing her phone with shaky hands, wondering if a video submission would be enough.
“I was SO nervous,” Smith laughs now. “I couldn’t make tryouts because of a Weber conflict, and all I kept thinking was, what if my video isn’t enough? When I saw my name on the list, I said, ‘NO WAY.’ It was unreal.”
Unreal, but earned. Smith, a Weber State standout and USA Cheer athlete, is part of a generation that’s been building cheerleading’s evolution from competition to full-blown professional sport.
“I think our generation has always been next level,” she says. “From All Star to college to ICU — the progression has been insane. It was only a matter of time before cheer had to level up. To be part of that first wave? It’s humbling.”
From College Star to Pro Athlete
Smith’s jump to the pros didn’t come with a learning curve, it came with a mindset shift.
“In college, your last year feels like the end. You start to mentally check out,” she says. “Now? It feels like I’m just getting started. There’s more to chase.”
Known nationally for her elite partner stunting, Smith says precision is her obsession.
“I’ve worked years to master every coed stunt possible — not just to hit them, but to perform them. Being a performer and an elite flyer at the same time? That’s another job entirely.”
Inside Miami Metal
The Miami Metal energy is already electric — and if you know Miami cheer, you know exactly what that means.
“It’s intense,” Smith says without hesitation. “Miami has that reputation for a reason. The athletes, the coaches, the vibe — it’s all elite. I’m lucky a lot of my Weber and USA teammates are here too. Even my former CTA Empire teammate, Gabi [Butler]. It feels like family, but with the heat turned all the way up.”
Official training starts November 15, but the foundation is already there.
“We’re very intentional. Everyone is mindful but still having fun. And with Kristen and Victor Rosario leading us? Unreal. I grew up dreaming of Top Gun — now I’m getting coached by them on a pro team. Life really does play out the way it’s meant to.”
Redefining Professional Cheer
Miami Metal and the Pro League itself, isn’t just another competition setting. It’s redefining what the sport can look like.
“Fans are going to see the gold standard of what this sport is,” Smith says firmly. “There are no limits. The only ceiling is the one we build for ourselves.”
She’s clear about her mission: changing perceptions.
“I want people to finally see the athleticism — to see cheer as mainstream entertainment, not an accessory to a sport. Cheer is the sport. And I believe it’s going to the Olympics. This is the start.”
Asked to define Miami Metal in three words, she doesn’t hesitate.
“Dominant. Flawless. Elite.”
The same could be said for her.
My take:
Hailey D’Lynn Smith is exactly what this new professional era needs — a mix of quiet grit and unshakable belief. She represents the athlete who’s seen every level of this sport and still walks in hungry to not only get the next skill, but master it. Miami Metal didn’t just add a name to its roster; it added one of the sport’s future architects. Personally, I cannot wait to see how this season unfolds.
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