The Los Angeles Sparks were just getting used to having Kelsey Plum back on the floor after she suffered an ankle injury, and now the team has lost Cameron Brink to her own injury of the same nature. The timing is especially brutal because the Sparks will play the Minnesota Lynx Wednesday night and will need all hands on deck.
Afetr a short-lived bumpy start, Brink has proven to be a valuable and impactful part of this year's Sparks roster. She missed her rookie season and even part of the 2025 season after suffering an ACL tear, and now will be out for an indeterminate length of time as she recovers.
The Sparks head into tonight's game with a 7-7 record and the drive to beat the Lynx, but that's a tall order against the best team in the WNBA — especially since Minnesota are showing no sign of slowing down.
Brink's injury rattled the Sparks
Brink appeared to tweak her ankle during the fourth quarter of the Sparks' game against the Golden State Valkyries on Monday, June 15. She was able to walk (while limping) to the bench to get checked out, and did not come back into the game. Head coach Lynne Roberts only told reporters. that Brink would be evaluated, and that an update would be forthcoming.
Brink has emerged as one of the Sparks' strongest disruptors this season. Her 6'4" frame lends her a lot in terms of the ability to block, and she's currently averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 17.5 minutes per game. Her abilities on the court are a huge part of what continues to make the Sparks a threat this season, and the team will again feel the weight of her loss against Minnesota, who will undoubtedly be powered by rookie superstar Olivia Miles.
The Sparks will need to be able to rely on other members of the team to fill in the gap left by Brink. Fortunately, that's something they've had to do before, so the team isn't in entirely new territory. Dearica Hamby will likely see plenty of frontcourt action, and Nneka Ogwumike will be expected to dominate the backcourt. If the Sparks have any chance of building and maintaing momentum this season, they'll have to continue to be flexible and adaptable. That's especially true in 2026, which so far seems to be a season that's taking no prisoners across the board.
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