Cameron Brink Says It Was 'Intimidating' Having to Guard A'ja Wilson in Injury Return
Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink would've preferred it if her 2025 WNBA season debut hadn't come against a three-time MVP who's one of the league's best players.
In the newest episode of Straight to Cam, a Wave Original, Brink said at the 7:36 mark it was "definitely hard to guard" Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson and "a little intimidating" to match up against her.
The 2024 first-round pick was sidelined for the second half of her rookie year and the start of this season with a torn ACL. Given her long layoff, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts is easing her back into action rather than immediately anointing her a starter.
Through two appearances, Brink has logged 26 minutes and put up 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
For some players, especially those who played a starring role in college, shifting to the bench can be a tough adjustment. Brink, on the other hand, told co-host Sydel Curry-Lee that coming off the bench is "kinda nice" for reasons she struggled to articulate.
The 6'4" big and her teammates struggled to keep Wilson in check. The seven-time All-Star shot 16-of-23 for 34 points as Las Vegas beat L.A. 89-74. It was her second 30-point outing against the Sparks.
The circumstances were certainly suboptimal for Brink as she returned to the court. Her second game back then pitted her against the Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike, a 10-time All-Star and the 2016 MVP.
The WNBA has no shortage of elite forwards and centers scattered across the 13 teams. Even in what's an abbreviated year for her, Brink will have plenty of tests on the floor that help to further her development.
