Sparks' Cameron Brink Carried to Locker Room with Knee Injury, Ruled Out vs. Sun
June 19, 2024
Los Angeles Sparks rookie forward Cameron Brink suffered a left knee injury during the first quarter of her team's road game against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
Brink, the 2024 draft's No. 2 overall pick and ex-Stanford star, was carried back to the locker room. The Sparks later announced that she would not return.
The injury occurred as the 22-year-old drove to the basket on Sun center Brionna Jones. Brink fell to the court during the drive, which culminated in a Jones personal foul after a small amount of contact.
Brink initially limped off the court herself but then stopped on the sideline before being carried to the back.
The rookie, who has shined on the defensive end, entered Tuesday averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game. She had just scored 16 points—her second-highest total of her WNBA career—in her most recent matchup on Sunday against the Atlanta Dream.
It was a scary sight in Connecticut as Brink went down and then struggled to get to the locker room on her own power. The hope, obviously, is that her injury isn't too serious and she's able to return to the court at full health soon enough.
In the interim, she is receiving plenty of well-wishes and prayers, including from Los Angeles Lakers legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.
Brink starred at Stanford before entering the WNBA, winning a national title in 2021, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2022 and 2024 and garnering consensus All-American honors in 2024.