Sparks Coach Calls Out Cameron Brink After Blowout Loss

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Sparks Coach Calls Out Cameron Brink After Blowout Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated May 11, 2026 10:03 AM ET

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Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts held Cameron Brink accountable after a lopsided season-opening loss.

The defending champion Las Vegas Aces thrashed the Sparks 105-78 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

Brink, entering her third WNBA season after two injury-riddled campaigns, made little impact.

The 6-foot-4 forward logged just eight minutes of action. She finished scoreless, grabbing three rebounds while committing three turnovers and three fouls.

Roberts was asked about her young forward's lackluster showing after the game. She did not mince words.

“I mean, we need Cam to produce. We need Cam to bring that defensive energy,” she said in her post-game interview. “We have so much confidence and belief in her. She's got to get out on the floor with some confidence and do what she's capable of doing. But we're going to need her.”

.@LASparks Lynne Roberts on Cameron Brink playing only 8:03 against the Aces@MirrorUSSports pic.twitter.com/JBBhF1rROJ
— Jarrod Castillo (@CastleofJays) May 11, 2026

The Sparks were outgunned from the jump. Las Vegas shot 62% from the field, the second-best mark in franchise history.

Chennedy Carter led the Aces with 22 points. Jackie Young added 20 points and nine assists. A'ja Wilson chipped in 19 points and four rebounds.

Kelsey Plum did most of the heavy lifting for Los Angeles, dropping 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Brink was supposed to round out that Sparks frontcourt trio. Roberts looked to her for contributions beyond the box score.

The stakes are high for the third-year forward. Brink has appeared in just 34 combined games across her first two WNBA seasons. Roberts is counting on her to step up now that she is fully healthy.

"Part of the beginning of Season 2 is figuring out rotations and chemistry and all the things," Roberts said. "We looked like we just didn't have a lot of floor chemistry out there. Vegas did. They've also played together for years, right? And it's not an excuse, but it's just a reality."

Roberts left no doubt about her expectations for Brink going forward.

"So we're going to need Cam," said the Sparks coach. "She's going to be a big part of our success, have every bit of belief in her."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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