Cameron Brink’s promise and danger are both clearer than ever in the third season with Sparks
Two weeks ago in their season opener, the Los Angeles Sparks were destroyed by the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, 105-98. Coming off of that game, one of the biggest stories was the limited minutes of Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Brink played just eight minutes and had zero points, three rebounds, three turnovers and three fouls.
“We need Cam to produce. We need Cam to bring energy to the defense,” Sparks coach Lynn Roberts told reporters after the game. “We trust him a lot and we believe in him. He has to come out with confidence and do what he can do.”
However, on Saturday night in Vegas, the Spark avenged their opening day loss, upsetting the Aces 101-95, and Brink was definitely produced.
The 24-year-old forward started the season with veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike sidelined with a hand injury, and had a game-high 16 points, eight rebounds, one steal and one block while going 7-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from the outside. She also showed her resilience, literally and figuratively, after being accidentally elbowed by Aces forward NaLyssa Smith that left her with a bloody nose. Teammate Kelsey Plum, who scored 38 points on Saturday, spoke to Brink after the game to tell him he did a good job.
“I’m very proud. These young kids have a lot of pressure and the expectations are very high,” Plum told CBS Sports postgame. “I think he’s continuing to blossom and he’s doing well… Cam is going to be our X factor this year. We’re going to really need Cam, so I’m proud of him.”
Unfortunately, Brink only played 24 minutes because he fouled out early in the fourth quarter, allowing one of the biggest liabilities in his game — his inability to get out of foul trouble — to spoil what was an incredible night. In one game, he pointed out why he should get more chances in the starting team.
The first case
The former Stanford standout is known for his blocking ability, but he can make an impact in multiple areas. He is 6-foot-4 tall with a formidable 6-foot-8 wingspan, which is a dangerous combination with his body and how well he moves. Besides blocking, crashing the boards and making good passes, he can be a versatile offensive weapon for the Sparks as a versatile forward who shoots from beyond the arc. Through the first six games of the season, Brink averaged 9.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. Most notably, he has 1.7 blocks per contest — currently fifth in the league.
Although this is Brink’s third year in the WNBA, she has only played a combined 34 games in her first two seasons, meaning she has had significantly less experience than other 2024 starters such as Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese.
Brink was a starter during his rookie season, which looked very promising before it was cut short by a torn ACL and a torn meniscus in his left knee in just 15 games. He returned 13 months later, but did not return to the starting lineup in 2025. Although he only averaged 12.8 minutes per contest during the 19 games he played during his sophomore year, it was understandable why the Sparks would want to get him back into action after so many injuries.
Brink is in a happy mood right now because what he showed Saturday was a good step toward earning more trust — and minutes — from Roberts. However, staying in the starting squad after Ogwumike’s return may be difficult because the veteran player has been a great asset to the team. Ogwumike is averaging 31.6 minutes per game and Dearica Hamby, who was re-signed in the offseason, is giving the team 30.8 minutes per contest. They are currently the starters in the frontcourt, but the nearly 18 minutes per game that Brink contributed was also important.
“He erases a lot of mistakes out there,” Ogwumike said. “Being able to be there and knowing that you have my back, and we want each other to be in a good place to do well.”
An ongoing problem
Saturday was a productive night for Brink, but a poor performance when Las Vegas had a chance to bounce back didn’t make things easy for the Sparks. Whether all the calls were right or not, Brink had a rough patch before arriving in the WNBA. He fumbled 14 times during his time at Stanford, including Big Day and in back-to-back games in his final NCAA tournament.
“I don’t want anyone to get one, so I’m going to use my mistakes,” Brink told CBS Sports last summer. “I’ve always had a problem with football, but that’s because I’m an aggressive player. I’m still working on that.”
He has registered at least three errors in every game this season. Saturday was his second poor performance in 2026, as it also happened last week in the Sparks’ 106-96 loss to the Toronto Tempo.
And there is more difficulty this season. After complaints from coaches and players about referees allowing too much physicality and inconsistent calls, the WNBA made rule changes in the offseason and officiating has become more strict. This will lead to more fouls, at least early on, and will likely mean some adjustment time for players like Brink.
He still got into foul trouble a lot last season, but he had one foul play in 2025 — it took him just 13 minutes to commit six fouls against Seattle in September.
Next, Brink and the rest of the Sparks will hit the road and play back-to-back games against the Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun on Friday and Saturday.
