WNBA Star Cameron Brink Hated Team's Male Practice Players

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WNBA Star Cameron Brink Hated Team's Male Practice Players

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Holleran | Last updated Aug 16, 2026 9:25 AM ET

It's common in the WNBA, and in women's basketball in general, for teams to use male practice players in scrimmages, drills, etc.

The male practice players typically played growing up but didn't reach high levels of college basketball or professional basketball. But due to their size and athleticism, they make for strong practice players. South Carolina women's basketball head coach has often credited her male practice players for helping her Gamecocks women's team become the best in the country.

But WNBA star forward Cameron Brink isn't the biggest fan.

Brink, a star forward at Stanford drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks, has spoken out against her team's male practice players.

Apr 30, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink poses during media day at El Camino College. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images&period;

Brink wasn't very happy when the Sparks invited men to try out for their practice squad ahead of the 2025 season.

Speaking on her “Straight to Cam” podcast, Brink sounded off on the idea of male practice players.

Brink sounds off on male practice players

“My confession is I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players,” Brink said. “Usually, we use [USC] 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. …Preferably they’re gay. …Who are we trusting coming into this gym?”

Brink didn't hold back.

“Lynne [Roberts], our new coach, is going to be screaming at me for not rebounding, but I’m not boxing out anyone," she continued.

Perhaps it's fair for Brink to be concerned by the idea of having open tryouts for male practice players for a WNBA franchise, but this is fairly common across women's basketball in general.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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