Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink suffered a knee injury during Tuesday night's game against the Connecticut Sun, causing concern among fans and teammates. The incident occurred in the first quarter when Brink drove to the basket, slipped, and appeared to tweak her knee. She had to be assisted off the court and was seen hobbling towards the locker room for further evaluation.
Following the game, Sparks head coach Curt Miller confirmed the injury, stating that Brink would undergo evaluation the next day. The rookie had only played four minutes before the injury forced her to exit the game. Unfortunately, the Sparks went on to lose to the Sun with a final score of 79-70.
Brink, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, had been making significant contributions to the team, averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. She was tied with A'ja Wilson for the second-most blocks in the league and had also earned a spot on the 3x3 U.S. Olympic team for Paris.
Coach Miller expressed his frustration with injuries, noting that he has lost a starter to injury in almost every season of his coaching career. Despite the setback, he emphasized the importance of the 'next person up' mentality and rallying together as a team.
With a current record of 4-11, the Sparks will need to regroup and adjust to Brink's absence on the court. In the recent game against the Sun, Aari McDonald led the team with 14 points and seven assists, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory. On the other side, each Sun starter contributed double-digit points, with DeWanna Bonner leading the way with 16 points and seven rebounds in the win.