Young star finally fulfilled vision the Sparks have been waiting to realize since 2024

Cameron Brink was the Sparks’ highest draft pick since they selected Nneka Ogwumike first overall in 2012. Brink left Stanford as a defensive standout, averaging 3.7 blocks per game in her senior season, and a multi-level scorer. 

The Sparks haven’t been able to really benefit from Brink’s talent quite yet. She tore her ACL fifteen games into her rookie season—just when she was starting to get more comfortable in the W—and played the last nineteen games of her second season while working her way back into shape after a lengthy absence. The Sparks haven’t really seen Brink fully healthy and truly comfortable in the pro game yet. 

This offseason, she is showing them what that looks like while playing in Unrivaled. Brink played her best scoring game of the season in a win over Mist and displayed her offensive versatility. 

Brink was a major part of the Breeze’s third win

Unrivaled’s inaugural season was just one of the many things Brink had to miss after she tore her ACL. She was still in Miami and considered a member of the Lunar Owls, though. This season, she is a part of Breeze BC, one of the two expansion teams to join the league for its second season. The Breeze’s roster is filled with young talent around Brink. 

Her team’s win over the Mist was Brink’s best scoring game and, most importantly, she looked absolutely comfortable on the court, even when going up against the size, versatility, and defensive talent that the Mist’s trio of Breanna Stewart, Alanna Smith, and Li Yueru offers. 

Brink played a season-high 13.5 minutes and finished the game with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. She showed off her full range offensively, hitting a three, six two-point shots, and two free throws. Brink moved well off the ball, utilizing screens and cuts to her advantage, but also got a couple of self-created buckets. Twice, she got the ball at the 3-point line and took her defender—first Stewart and then Yueru—to the rim with smooth handles and spin moves. With 25 seconds left in the third quarter, Brink grabbed a rebound, went coast-to-coast, and was fouled on the layup. 

That is the kind of versatile, high-level scorer the Sparks need Brink to be if they want to build a contender around her, Rickea Jackson, Kelsey Plum, and Dearica Hamby. While playing in Unrivaled is very different than the WNBA because of the added space that three-on-three basketball creates, it is very encouraging to see Brink score the way she did. 

Brink was the Breeze’s second-leading scorer, trailing only Paige Bueckers and her 37 points. She also made her presence known defensively. While she only recorded one block, she still altered shots around the rim.