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Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink voiced her discomfort with the online reactions following the team’s recent call for male practice players. The Sparks had put out a social media flyer seeking male players to join the practice squad, featuring Brink alongside teammates Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum.
The overwhelming response led the team to stop accepting applications, but Brink, while not opposed to practicing against men, was disturbed by the nature of some comments.
Brink “Icked Out” by Inappropriate Responses
Speaking on her Straight to Cam podcast, Brink, 23, did not hold back about her unease.
“My confession is I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players,” Brink said. “Usually we use (University of Southern California) college guys that also do it for the women’s team at USC. All the comments are like, ‘Let Cameron Brink back me down,’ or something about Rickea or something about Kelsey. Who are we trusting coming into this gym?”
Concerns About Safety and Professionalism
Brink’s concerns highlight the importance of maintaining a safe and professional environment for players. Her comments suggest that the influx of applicants from the open tryout may not all be motivated by genuine interest in helping the team improve but rather by inappropriate or unserious intentions.
Reluctance to Go Full Effort Against Tryout Players
Despite her discomfort, Brink clarified that she would not be giving her full effort during these practices if the selected players came from the tryout pool.
“I’m not boxing anyone out,” she added. “Lynne (Roberts), our new coach, is going to be screaming at me for not rebounding but I’m not boxing out anyone.”
Brink’s Rise to Stardom
Brink, a 6-foot-4 defensive powerhouse, led Stanford to an NCAA championship before being selected by the Sparks with the second overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. While she continues to excel on the court, her concerns about player safety and professionalism off the court emphasize the importance of protecting athletes in practice environments.
The Sparks have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the situation.
