Brink exits Sparks’ loss early after injuring knee

Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink will likely be evaluated Wednesday after she became once helped off the court docket with a left knee effort Tuesday at Connecticut.

Brink, the No. 2 decide in the 2024 WNBA draft out of Stanfordlooked as if it may maybe perhaps most likely maybe well drag while using to the basket at Mohegan Sun Enviornment in the first quarter.

Brink, 22, obtained up slowly and hobbled to the sideline, then became once carried to the locker room by two workers participants.

Brink played underneath four minutes and committed one inappropriate sooner than getting effort. She became once later ruled out for the sport, which the Sparks misplaced seventy 9-70.

Sparks coach Curt Miller didn’t possess an replace on Brink, asserting wonderful that she will be able to be evaluated Wednesday.

A 6-foot-4 forward, Brink has started each and each game this season for the Sparks and entered Tuesday averaging 8.1 aspects, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. Her blocks real looking is tied for 2d most in the WNBA with Las Vegas Aces massive name Aja Wilson.

Miller, who coached the Sun from 2016 to 2022, eminent that as opposed to 2019, he had misplaced a starter to effort each and each season he has been a WNBA head coach.

“[Injuries] are section of the WNBA, unfortunately,” Miller stated. “You correct possess to possess the mentality of subsequent particular person up and rally spherical it. Does an effort originate a door for any other particular person to in fact birth up to blossom and affect self belief? You peek at my time in Connecticut … someone went down, any other particular person stepped up.

“So we’re praying and hoping for the most attention-grabbing for Cam. However unintended consequences of injuries are it be going to originate the door for somebody admire[[[[Li Yueru]if that occurs to be necessary.”

With Brink out numerous the sport, Li, a 6-foot-7 center from China, played a season-excessive 26 minutes, finishing with 11 aspects on 5-of-6 shooting to affiliate with 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Guard Owned by McDonald’s led the Sparks with 14 aspects and 7 assists.

“For one, we correct stated, ‘Attain it for Cameron,'” McDonald stated of how the Sparks saved the sport conclude against the 13-1 Sun despite Brink’s absence. “And, two, correct preserve getting stops. The game became once never out of attain, so I’m correct in fact pleased with our community.”

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

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