The Los Angeles Sparks (7-7) will be without Cameron Brink when they take on the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx (11-3) on Wednesday night in L.A.
The injury comes at a frustrating time for Brink, who has been enjoying the best stretch of her young WNBA career after battling through major injury setbacks during her first two seasons in the league.
With the Sparks fighting to stay in the playoff picture, here’s the latest on Brink’s injury and what happened during Los Angeles’ loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday.
Why is Cameron Brink Not Playing in Sparx vs. Lynx Tonight?
Brink’s latest injury scare happened during the Sparks’ 78-58 loss to the Valkyries on Monday.
Late in the game, the 24-year-old was seen limping toward the bench before stopping and sitting down on the floor. Teammates and staff quickly came to her aid, then helped her off the court.
Given Brink’s injury history, the latest setback is a worry. The former No. 2 overall pick suffered a torn ACL during her rookie season in 2024 and has had her minutes managed carefully since returning to action.
ASparks head coach Lynne Roberts offered a brief update recently. Roberts said that we can’t expect Brink back anytime soon due to an ankle sprain.
MORE: Lynx Phenom Olivia Miles Surpasses Caitlin Clark, Ties Paige Bueckers to Rewrite WNBA Record Books
The following day, Los Angeles confirmed Brink had suffered a left ankle injury and ruled her out for Wednesday’s matchup against the Lynx. Fortunately for the Sparks, the injury does not appear to be related to her previous knee issues, but the team has yet to provide a timetable for her return.
Brink’s Impact On Sparks in WNBA 2026 So Far
Brink has been one of the Sparks’ most impactful players in 2026 despite primarily coming off the bench. Through 14 appearances, the former Stanford star is averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 53.8% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.
All of her production comes after she’s started just one game this season, while averaging just 17.5 minutes per game.
Brink appeared to be trending in the right direction before her injury on Monday. She posted 15 points and six rebounds against the Seattle Storm on June 10, followed that with a season-high nine rebounds against the Phoenix Mercury three days later, and scored 10 points before exiting against the Valkyries.
The 24-year-old has reached double figures in scoring eight times this season. Her ability to protect the rim, rebound, and stretch the floor has made her one of Los Angeles’ most valuable frontcourt players.
In her absence, Dearica Hamby is expected to see an increased workload in the frontcourt, but the Sparks will be hoping her absence is only a short-term setback.
