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Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink said she is “icked out by the potential new practice players” the team could bring in this season after a post on the Sparks’ social media accounts drew sexually-charged responses.
Speaking on her podcast “Straight to Cam” in an episode released Monday, Brink called the comments “completely out of pocket.”
“This isn’t embarrassing for me; I’m embarrassed for all these men,” she said.
Brink, guard Kelsey Plum and forwards Rickea Jackson and Dearica Hamby were featured in a photo with the post, and many comments in the replies were about the women’s appearances with some users making jokes about backing the women down in the post.
“Who are we trusting coming into this gym?” Brink asked, later adding: “I’m not boxing anyone out. Lynne (Roberts), our new coach, is going to be screaming at me for not rebounding. I’m not boxing out anyone.”
We’re looking for male practice players for the 2025 season. Do you have what it takes?
Join us for tryouts: 📅 Saturday, April 12 ⏰ 10-12 PM 📍 El Camino College
Register & fill out the waiver today: https://t.co/pZwGxFj9IZ pic.twitter.com/Is794FF0PA
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) March 9, 2025
Brink, 23, said the Sparks have previously practiced with the USC male college practice players who play against the USC women’s team.
In the weeks since the original post, the Sparks’ registration page to sign up for practice-player tryouts has been taken down and the team won’t accept any more submissions “due to the overwhelming number of applicants,” the website says.
A Sparks spokesperson shared a statement Tuesday confirming that “any players selected for the practice squad will undergo a thorough background check process to ensure the safety and well-being of our athletes.”
“The Los Angeles Sparks are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment for all our players and want to emphasize that player safety remains our top priority. To clarify, as always for our practice squad tryouts, no Sparks players will participate or be in attendance. The use of male practice players is a well-established practice in both the WNBA and women’s college basketball, and the Sparks have utilized this approach since the league’s inception in 1997.”
Brink hosts her podcast alongside her godsister Sydel Curry-Lee, a former college volleyball player. Curry-Lee also is the younger sister of Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and the wife of Phoenix Suns guard Damion Lee.
Brink started the first 15 games of her rookie season last year before she tore her left ACL against the Connecticut Sun on June 18. She averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists in her rookie season after the Sparks selected her with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She was a three-time All-Pac 12 player at Stanford and was the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
(Photo: Erick W. Rasco / Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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