Brink, who was a standout star at Stanford and was the No. 2 pick in this year's WNBA draft, slipped while driving to the basket in the first quarter of Tuesday's game.
Brink started all 15 games for the Sparks this season and averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The injury came one day after he had one of his best games as a pro, recording 16 points and seven rebounds in an 87-74 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.
“Except for the 2019 season, every year that I've been a head coach in this league, we've lost a starter to injury,” Sparks coach Kurt Miller said after his team fell to 4-11 with a 79-70 loss to the Sun. “You just have to come together and have that next man up mentality.”
Brink was overwhelmed with emotion when she was informed earlier this month that she had been selected for the U.S. Olympic 3×3 foursome.
Brink's replacement on the U.S. women's 3×3 team would join forward Sierra Burdick (now playing professionally in Spain), Dream guard Rhyne Howard and TCU guard Hailey Van Lith. Her replacement must have experience playing 3×3 basketball at the international level.
Fellow WNBA rookie Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley all took to social media to support Brink.
We are praying for you, Cam! We know your basketball family just wants you to recover and get back on the court! Love!
— Dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) June 19, 2024
Brink confirmed the injury in an Instagram post late Wednesday, saying, “I never thought this would happen to me. Sometimes it happens despite how hard you try. It's hard to comprehend, but I know this will make me stronger.”
