Sparks’ Cameron Brink leaves game against. Sun with knee injury

Sparks debutant Cameron Brink had to be assisted in the locker room following an injury to his knee in the first quarter on Tuesday in Connecticut.

By Michael Voepel

Jun 19, 2024 12:25 AM

Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink will be evaluated Wednesday after she was helped off the court with a left knee injury Tuesday at Connecticut .

Brink, the No. 2 selection in the 2024 WNBA draft from Stanford was seen to fall off while driving to the court in Mohegan Sun Arena in the first quarter.

Brink 22-year-old Brink was able to stand slowly and walked towards the sideline, and then was taken back to his locker area by two of the staff.

Sparks rookie Cameron Brink is assisted off the court after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter of Tuesday’s game at Connecticut. M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire

Brink was on the court for just under four minutes, and she committed one violation before she was injured. Then, she was ruled out during the game, in which the Sparks were defeated the game 79-70..

The Sparks’ coach Curt Miller did not provide any information regarding Brink she was told she’d be evaluated on Wednesday.

A 6-foot-4 forward Brink has played in every game in the season with the Sparks and was averaging 8.1 points. She also had 5.7 racks as well as 2.5 blocks. Her block average is second in the WNBA along with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.

Miller who was the coach of for the Sun from 2016 until 2022, stated that, with his exception for 2019, he suffered a player injury each season that he was an WNBA Head Coach.

“[Injuries] are part of the WNBA, unfortunately,” Miller explained. “You must have the mindset of the next player to get up and work together around. Is an injury opening the way for another player to truly blossom and build confidence? can look back at my experiences with Connecticut … there was a person who was injured, and another person stepped up.

“So we’re praying to see the best in Cam. However, the unintended effects of injuries could open the way for someone similar to Li Yuerushould that turn out to become necessary.”

With Brink out the majority during the contest, Li, a 6-foot-7 center from China, played an all-time high of 26 minutes. He tallied 11 points, shooting 5-of-6 and 2 rebound and three assists. Guard Aari McDonald was the top scorer for his team Sparks by scoring 14 points as well as seven assists.

“For one, we just said, ‘Do it for Cameron,'” McDonald stated about how the Sparks played a tight game in the face of the 13-1 Sun despite Brink’s absence. “And, two, just keep getting stops. The game was never out of reach, so I’m just really proud of our group.”

Brink who took home an American championship with Stanford in 2021. He is on the quartet of U.S. women’s 3×3 team for the Paris Olympics.

The Sparks (4-11) travel for New York to play two games against the Liberty on Saturday and Thursday.