Cameron Brink 'shocked' by online reaction to Sparks' call for male practice players
Cameron Brink ‘Taken Aback’ by Reaction to Sparks’ Male Practice Player Decision
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Cameron Brink Unsettled by Online Reaction to Sparks' Call for Male Practice Players
LOS ANGELES – Sparks forward Cameron Brink expressed discomfort over the online response to the team’s recent call for male practice players.
Last week, the Sparks announced tryouts for male practice squad players via social media, receiving such an overwhelming response that they had to stop accepting applications.
Brink clarified that she had no issue practicing against men but was disturbed by some of the reactions to the flyer, which featured her alongside teammates Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum.
"Honestly, I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players," Brink said on her Straight to Cam podcast, which she co-hosts with Sydel Curry-Lee. "Usually, we use [USC] college guys who also practice with the women’s team at USC. But the comments were unsettling—things like, 'Let Cameron Brink back me down' or remarks about Rickea and Kelsey. It makes you wonder, who are we trusting to come into this gym?"
In response to the concerns, the Sparks released a statement Wednesday reassuring that player safety is a top priority.
"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," the statement read. "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, 23, won an NCAA championship with Stanford in 2021 before being selected as the second overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Sparks.
The 6-foot-4 defensive standout also noted she would avoid boxing out against male practice players in rebounding drills.
"Lynne [Roberts], our new coach, is going to be yelling at me for not rebounding, but I’m not boxing out anyone," she said.
The Sparks are set to open their season against the expansion Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco on May 16.
LOS ANGELES – Sparks forward Cameron Brink expressed discomfort over the online response to the team’s recent call for male practice players.
Last week, the Sparks announced tryouts for male practice squad players via social media, receiving such an overwhelming response that they had to stop accepting applications.
Brink clarified that she had no issue practicing against men but was disturbed by some of the reactions to the flyer, which featured her alongside teammates Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and Kelsey Plum.
"Honestly, I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players," Brink said on her Straight to Cam podcast, which she co-hosts with Sydel Curry-Lee. "Usually, we use [USC] college guys who also practice with the women’s team at USC. But the comments were unsettling—things like, 'Let Cameron Brink back me down' or remarks about Rickea and Kelsey. It makes you wonder, who are we trusting to come into this gym?"
In response to the concerns, the Sparks released a statement Wednesday reassuring that player safety is a top priority.
"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," the statement read. "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, 23, won an NCAA championship with Stanford in 2021 before being selected as the second overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Sparks.
The 6-foot-4 defensive standout also noted she would avoid boxing out against male practice players in rebounding drills.
"Lynne [Roberts], our new coach, is going to be yelling at me for not rebounding, but I’m not boxing out anyone," she said.
The Sparks are set to open their season against the expansion Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco on May 16.
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