June 18, 2024. Does that date sound familiar? It should. That was the last time we saw Cameron Brink in action. Just 15 games into her rookie season, the 6’4″ phenom suffered a devastating ACL and meniscus tear in her left knee during a game against the Connecticut Sun. Since then, the Los Angeles Sparks have sorely missed her presence, despite having made some big moves.
The Los Angeles Sparks undoubtedly absolutely stirred this offseason when they pulled off a blockbuster three-team trade that brought in two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum to lead the team. It was a big move, and going forward, the LA Sparks became a team to keep an eye on. But 12 games into the season, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. The Sparks have gone 4-8 to start the season. And much of it can be attributed to the absence of what Magic Johnson calls “high basketball IQ“. Fair enough, after all, in his own words, when she was drafted, she had “led the nation for the last two years in block shots and…she can shoot from the three-point line”.
Cameron Brink talked about this very topic on her Straight to Cam podcast alongside teammate Dearica Hamby. As she began to say, “When I’m back, hopefully the one thing I can do is add some defensive –”, Hamby quickly cut her off with a playful, “Don’t you start.”
The truth is, the Sparks are one of the best offensive teams in the league, thanks to the dynamic duo of Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby. The duo averages nearly 38 points per game this season. Their offensive rating of 103.4 ranks fifth in the league, showing just how potent they can be with the ball. But what about the defense? Well, that is where the Sparks have struggled this season.
Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) yells in excitement Tuesday, May 28, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever, 88-82.
The Sparks are conceding 86 points per game this season, resulting in a defensive rating of 106. That ranks them 4th worst in the league. Far from ideal! Defense has clearly been their biggest weakness. And that’s exactly where Cameron Brink’s absence is being felt the most. Her size and shot-blocking ability would have provided a much-needed boost to the defense. Before her injury, Brink was averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game. A true gamechanger on both ends of the floor!
And considering that basketball is her “therapy” and how she wants to play “for as long as she can,” no wonder that she has been dreaming about an overseas stint since her college days. She had said in 2021, “I definitely wanna play professionally..I would love to play overseas. That would be the dream.” And she has not changed her mind since.
In the same episode of Straight to Cam, Cameron Brink opened up about potentially taking her talents overseas someday after getting inspired by Gabby Williams’ Eurobasket performances. She said, “Talking about playing overseas, like, I feel like that’s something I should do in my time as a player. And obviously, I’m signed with Unrivaled, so I’m excited – I can’t wait to actually play in that league. But I don’t know, maybe at some point in my career it’d be cool.”
Whether or not Brink plays overseas down the line remains to be seen, but right now, her sights are set on getting healthy and helping the Sparks in their playoff hunt. As for a potential return timeline? Her coach recently gave an update, and it’s not the kind Sparks fans were hoping for.
Cameron Brink injury update
Earlier reports suggested that Cameron Brink might return sometime in June. But those have now been squashed by the Sparks’ head coach Lynne Roberts, in her recent update.
“There’s no date. She’ll be cleared when she’s cleared and ready to roll,” said the first-year head coach. She also added that while Brink has done some on-court work, it’s all been non-contact so far. As of now, there’s still no clear indication of when she’ll be given the green light for full-contact action.
It’s officially been a year since Cameron Brink last stepped on the court, and fans are still anxiously waiting for her return. While it might take another month or two before she’s fully cleared, rushing her back makes little sense. Sparks fans have already waited this long; a little more patience could go a long way. But the real question is, can LA weather the storm without her? Or will her absence continue to be felt on both ends of the floor? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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