Brink exits Sparks’ loss early after injuring knee

Sparks’ Cameron Brink leaves game vs. Sun with knee injury

Michael Voepel, ESPN.comJun 18, 2024, 08:25 PM ET

Michael Voepel covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball, and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink had to be helped off the court after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter Tuesday at Connecticut.

Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA draft out of Stanford, appeared to slip while driving to the basket at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Brink, 22, got up slowly and hobbled to the sideline, then was carried to the locker room by two staff members.

Brink played under four minutes and committed one foul before getting hurt. She was later ruled out for the game.

“Cam has a knee injury and will be evaluated tomorrow,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said after his team’s 79-70 loss to the Sun.

A 6-foot-4 forward, Brink has started every game this season for the Sparks and entered Tuesday averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Her blocks average is tied for second most in the WNBA with Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson.

“Except for the 2019 season I’ve lost a starter to injury every single year I’ve been a head coach in this league,” Miller said. “You just have to have the mentality of next person up and rally around it.”

Brink, who won a national championship with Stanford in 2021, is on the four-member U.S. women’s 3×3 team for the Paris Olympics.

“We’re praying and hoping for the best for Cam,” Miller said.

The Sparks (4-11) head to New York to play two games against the Liberty on Thursday and Saturday.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.