a day ago
Cameron Brink expected to play for Sparks on Tuesday after 13-month layoff
After a 13-month layoff, Cameron Brink is returning to the basketball court.
The No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft is expected to make her season debut for the Los Angeles Sparks at home Tuesday against the Las Vegas Aces. At Monday's practice, when asked by a reporter if she was planning on playing, Brink said, 'I don't know if I can say that, but yeah.'
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'It's a little nerve-wracking,' Brink said over the weekend. 'I'm just really going to try to be patient with myself because I'm definitely not where I was last year. Still a work in progress.'
Brink hasn't played since June 18, 2024, when she tore her ACL in the opening minutes of a loss to the Connecticut Sun. L.A. finished the season 8-32, its worst record in franchise history. Brink not only missed the remainder of the WNBA season but also a chance to play in the Paris Olympics after she had been selected for the USA 3×3 team. She also had signed on to play in Unrivaled's inaugural season but had to sit that out.
Brink has been practicing with the Sparks over the past few weeks in her ramp up. Coach Lynne Roberts teased her return during the team's recent three-game road trip, with speculation that it would come in L.A.'s next home game.
The Sparks could use Brink on defense. Even as they have reeled off a five-game winning streak, their defensive rating is 11th in the league. Brink, who was third in the league in blocks last season before her injury, provides the rim deterrence L.A. has been lacking.
This is a relatively light portion of the schedule for the Sparks, with four games in the next 10 days, three of which are at home, allowing Brink some time to ease her way back.
