Basketball-wise, Cameron Brink and Dominique Malonga have a lot in common. They were the second-overall picks in back-to-back drafts, they are both long shot-blockers, and both are among the best young bigs in the league. The two have very similar games and should make for a fun matchup to watch for several years. Over the years, they may even form a rivalry, competing for Defensive Player of the Year awards and other honors.
A thrilling 108-106 game that went to overtime twice gave fans a first chance to watch Brink and Malonga go up against each other for the first time. The two teams had already met once before this season, but Brink had to miss that game. She just returned from a torn ACL she suffered during her rookie season.
Brink and the Sparks got a big win over Seattle
The Sparks spent the first half of the season at the bottom of the WNBA standings. They have been on a tear recently, vastly improving offensively and securing some important wins. Los Angeles was very much on par with Seattle in the second meeting of the season.
Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Rickea Jackson, Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby, and Azura Stevens were the stars of the show, but Brink and Malonga also left their marks on the game.
Malonga, the youngest player in the WNBA right now, played 20 big minutes. Ezi Mabegor committed five fouls, so Malonga’s role increased. She finished the game with six points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
Brink played only 12 minutes in her second game back from injury. In her time on the court, she scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds, got two steals, and blocked three shots.
Her impact on the Sparks’ defense has been noticeable despite her limited minutes so far. The Sparks haven’t been a good defensive team this year. They rank eleventh in defensive rating for the season with a rating of 107.5. They could use a boost from Brink to improve their chances of punching a ticket to the postseason.
Brink and Malonga went at each other quite a lot
Malonga and Brink guarded each other in the second and third quarters. Their size and ability to block shots were on full display. While Brink is clearly still working her way back into shape, Malonga had some big plays against Brink, including two blocks late in the third quarter.
As Brink works her way back into shape and Malonga gains more experience in the WNBA, this matchup will only get more exciting. There aren’t many young bigs with Brinks’s and Malonga’s size and ability to protect the rim on defense and space the floor on offense. Making threes is something Malonga is still working on at the WNBA level, but the potential is certainly there.