What Cameron Brink’s season-ending injury means for the Sparks

Brink tore the ACL in her left knee just three minutes into Tuesday’s matchup against the Connecticut Sun, ending her season and leaving Los Angeles with a 6’4-sized gap in their front court, now set to miss their energetic and talented rim protector. 

Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.

After the game, Sparks coach Curt Miller told reporters, “You just have to have the mentality of the next person up and rally around it.” 

Last night, the next person up was Li Yueru, the 2019 third round pick who is playing in her first season for the Sparks. Yueru has been playing behind Brink so far this season, averaging an efficient 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in only 12.8 minutes.

If last night’s game and this morning’s confirmation were any indication, that number is about to get a lot higher. Yueru played 26 minutes Tuesday, shooting 5-for-6 from the floor. Yueru told reporters after the game that in Brink’s absence, she was really trying to “focus on defense and focus to run the play, focus on getting rebounds, focus on one thing. Don’t think too much.” 

Get 24/7 soccer coverage with The Equalizer

The Next is partnering with The Equalizer to bring more women’s sports stories to your inbox. Subscribers to The Next receive 50% off their subscription to The Equalizer for 24/7 coverage of women’s soccer.

Miller told Locked On Women’s Basketball, “My heart is out. Our prayer warriors are out for Cameron right now. But also I look at it as, the story quickly becomes what this opportunity potentially could open the door for someone. Last night, Li Yeuru, as a 25-year-old 6’7 young post player, really stepped up in her place.”

While still waiting for confirmation of Brink’s injury on Wednesday morning, Coach Miller told Locked on Women’s Basketball he tries to remain positive around potential “unintended consequences” when one of his players is faced with an injury.

“I look at all the success through the years of it opening the door for other players,” he said, noting Alyssa Thomas’ move from the three to the four after Chiney Ogwumike’s injury in 2015 and how that elevated her skill set, Bri Jones’ improvement when Jonquel Jones opted out of the bubble season in 2020, and Karlie Samuelson breakout season with the Sparks on a hardship contract last year. 

Add Locked On Women’s Basketball to your daily routine

Here at The Next, in addition to the 24/7/365 written content our staff provides, we also host the daily Locked On Women’s Basketball podcast. Join us Monday through Saturday each week as we discuss all things WNBA, collegiate basketball, basketball history and much more. Listen wherever you find podcasts or watch on YouTube.

Unfortunately for the Sparks, Brink’s role is a hard one to fill. Her defensive versatility — both her quickness guarding smaller players and her skillful rim protecting — has been a nightmare for opponents. As of June 13, the Sparks were first in the WNBA in opponent field goal percentage in the paint when Brink was on the floor.

Miller noted that her defensive numbers are on par with players that have been multiple time defensive players of the year in the WNBA, and according to her coach, she’s “just scratching the surface. […] She’s an incredible teammate, an incredible person to coach, an incredible person in the locker room.” 

The Next, a 24/7/365 women’s basketball newsroom

The Next: A basketball newsroom brought to you by The IX. 24/7/365 women’s basketball coverage, written, edited and photographed by our young, diverse staff and dedicated to breaking news, analysis, historical deep dives and projections about the game we love.

Brink will also miss the Olympics, where she was slated to represent the USA in 3×3. USA Basketball 3×3 shared on X, “Heartbroken for Cam. We send her our love and strength.” FIBA 3×3 added “You will come back stronger” alongside a photo of Brink celebrating on the court. It has not yet been announced who will fill in for her.

Miller told Locked on Women’s Basketball, “I’ve had one year in my nine year head coaching career that I haven’t lost a starter, at least one starter, to a serious injury. It’s uncanny the amount of injuries that our league has gone through.” 

Following the confirmation of the injury on Wednesday, Brink’s teammates and opponents alike took to X to share their support. Dearica Hamby, who Brink has consistently praised for her mentorship, shared sweet photos and a message of encouragement on X: “Got you every step of the way 💜.”