The LA Sparks opened their season with a lopsided 105-78 loss to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, but the biggest talking point was the minimal playing time given to 2024 No. 2 pick Cameron Brink, who logged just eight minutes. Head coach Lynn Roberts finally addressed the decision, making it clear she expects more from the young forward.
Asked in the post-game press conference whether Brink’s short stint was due to her recovery from a torn ACL or the three fouls she picked up in that span, Roberts responded directly: “We need Cameron Brink to produce. We need Cam to bring that defensive energy. We have so much confidence and belief in her. She’s got to get out on the floor with confidence and do what she’s capable of doing, but we’re going to need her.”
In those eight minutes, Brink failed to score, grabbed three rebounds, and committed three turnovers and three fouls, posting a minus-19 plus-minus. The Aces overwhelmed the Sparks with five players in double figures: Chennedy Carter (22), Jackie Young (20), A’ja Wilson (19), Chelsea Gray (16), and NaLyssa Smith (12). For the Sparks, Kelsey Plum led with 27 points, while Nneka Ogwumike added 19.
Brink is still working back from the ACL tear she suffered during her rookie season. She returned in 2025 but averaged only 12.8 minutes across 19 games, contributing 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds. She also played in Unrivaled for Breeze BC, averaging 10.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes over 13 games. However, the 3-on-3 setting on a smaller court is a far cry from the intensity of a full WNBA season against champions.
Roberts made it clear that Brink’s injury or fouls were not the driving factor for her limited time. “Part of the beginning of the season is figuring out rotations, chemistry, and all those things. We looked like we didn’t have a lot of floor chemistry out there. Las Vegas Aces did,” she added. “We’re going to need Cam. She’s going to be a big part of our success, and we have every bit of belief in her.”
Nneka Ogwumike remains the starting center, with Emma Cannon and Sania Feagin also providing size off the bench. As the most physically imposing player on the roster, Brink will be crucial if the Sparks hope to improve on their 2025 performance. To earn more minutes, she must adapt to the league’s new officiating standards, which emphasize freedom of movement and have led to a surge in foul calls. Games like Storm-Liberty and Wings-Fever each had 61 fouls, while Mercury-Sky had 58, compared to last season’s average of 34.8 per game.
