Why Sparks’ Cameron Brink was ruled out vs. Mystics

Cameron Brink had unfortunate news that resulted in her absence from the court for the Los Angeles Sparks’ clash with the Washington Mystics on Saturday night.

Brink is going through the third season of her WNBA career with the Sparks. She shines as one of the best defensive players on the court when healthy, especially in the blocking department.

Los Angeles is confident in her abilities to help them be competitive in the playoff picture for the long term. What matters to them is that she remains healthy throughout the ups and downs of a regular season.

While Brink has been relatively healthy, she was unable to play in Los Angeles’ contest against Washington. The team revealed in an injury report in the leadup to the game that Brink couldn’t participate due to a rib injury.

How Sparks played against Mystics without Cameron Brink

The Sparks were unable to hold down the fort without Cameron Brink’s defensive presence. Despite competing with the Mystics, Los Angeles ultimately lost by an 80-70 score.

Los Angeles competed well with Washington throughout the first three quarters, even leading 58-55 going into the fourth period. However, their performance faltered down the stretch as the Mystics outscored the 25-12 in the last 10 minutes of regulation.

Three players scored in double-digits for Los Angeles in the loss. Rae Burrell led the team with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a block. She shot 6-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. Nneka Ogwumike came next with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Dearica Hamby provided 11 points and seven rebounds.

Los Angeles fell to a 12-22 record on the season, sitting at seventh place in the Western Conference standings. They are above the Seattle Storm while trailing the Phoenix Mercury and the Portland Fire.

The Sparks will look to bounce back in their next matchup, being on the road. They take on the Connecticut Sun as tip-off takes place on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. ET.