NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
Cameron Brink got to the WNBA with so much hype as any prospect can have. At Stanford, she became an elite defender, a rim protector as well as a big who could step outside and knock down the triple. When she was the number TWO pick behind Caitlin Clark, hoop heads thought this was the start of something big. Why wouldn’t you be excited? A versatile, dependable big with great instincts on defense and untapped potential on the offensive side. Add in Kelsey Plum, and the Sparks were set to reload and be contenders again.
But so far, her career has been more about what has kept her off the floor as much as what she has done on it. It was tough to watch: 15 games into her rookie year, she tore her ACL and meniscus. Every rehab is not the same, and for Cam it lasted 13 long months, with her hitting the floor the summer of 2025.
Then a brutal nose injury ended her 2025 season after she gave it a real go to play through it. 2026, she was ready to hit the ground running and have a serious impact. I screamed at the TV when she had an ankle injury in June and missed more time. She always fights her way back, and this season has shown flashes of why she was a top-3 draft pick. That win versus the Minnesota Lynx was one I won’t forget soon, with her off-the-bench play.
What’s Next?
So, what’s next for Cam Brink? The team has done a complete 180; I asked if the vets could get the Sparks to the finals. Fast forward, and at the trade deadline, this was a 10-17 team with no playoff hopes. They turned into sellers and shipped off scoring dynamo Kelsey Plum to Phoenix for picks and Monique Akoa Makani. So now what? The trade means it is rebuilding time in LA.
Her name was mentioned in possible moves to Toronto and the Indiana Fever, with more 1st-round picks being offered. But the Sparks have a lot of reasons to hold on to her, since she is still on the rookie deal. The move should be a slow, health-first offseason without a serious injury to rehab. Expand her role and lean into her defense and floor-stretching skills. Play the long game as a front office. It is never a question about her talent and star power. The only thing standing in her way is simply staying on the court.
