Cameron Brink may be entering her third WNBA season, but she has only played 34 games so far—not even a full season—due to an ACL injury that cost her the second half of her rookie season and the first part of her second year in the league. With veteran Nneka Ogwumike returning to LA, the Sparks have a chance to bring Brink along slowly rather than asking her to play a massive role for a contender right away.
At media day a few days ago, head coach Lynne Roberts said, “If we had a game tomorrow, Cam would come off the bench.”
That’s not a bad thing for a young player still trying to find her footing in the league after a devastating injury. But it could be bad for the Sparks’ defense.
Last season, the Sparks ran one of the best offenses in the league, but they were one of the worst teams on the other end of the floor, which cost them games. Bringing in Ariel Atkins and Nneka Ogwumike, as well as a new defensive-minded assistant coach, will help with the defense, but is it enough to allow the team to relegate one of the best rim protectors in the league to a smaller role?
Cameron Brink’s rim protection could make a big difference for the Sparks
Brink left Stanford as the Naimisth Defensive Player of the Year, and her rim protection carried over to the W seamlessly. Brink recorded at least two blocks in each of her first six regular-season games as a pro, including five blocks in a close loss to the Aces and four in a two-point win over the Mystics.
Even after her return from her ACL injury, her gravity as a defender was palpable. Guards will think twice about attacking the rim when they see a 6’4” big with a 6-foot-8 wingspan known for blocking shots anywhere near the basket. Her length also makes it more difficult for bigs to work around the rim or for passes to get into the paint.
If she’s healthy and not worried about any lingering issues from her injury anymore, Brink could easily lead the league in blocks. The Sparks may be able to turn things around defensively with the help of Atkins, Ogwumike, and assistant coach Ebony Hoffman, but if they can’t Roberts will have to reconsider Brink’s role on the team. Dearica Hamby found a ton of success as a reserve before. If the Sparks’ defensive issues persist, she may have to do that again.
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