LA Sparks’ Cameron Brink set to return 13 months after ACL tear

NEW YORK Former Oregon high school standout Cameron Brink will make her eagerly awaited comeback for the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday against the Las Vegas Aces, following a 13-month recuperation from an ACL injury.

After an outstanding career at Stanford, the 6-foot-4 forward, who excelled at Southridge and Mountainside high schools, was selected second overall in the 2024 WNBA draft.

Los Angeles, with a fantastic offense, has been playing better than any other team since the All-Star break, even with Brink out.

As of Tuesday night’s game, the club had won five in a row, including three away games. The club has only won five or more games in a row three times in the last five years. In 2020 and 2023, the Sparks had victory streaks of nine and six games, respectively.

For the first time in the team’s history, Los Angeles has scored 90 points or more in each of the five games, and they have also scored 100 points in a row, which is also a first for the group.

According to Sparks coach Lynne Roberts, “getting bodies back is part of the reason we’ve been playing better in the last month.” They’re figuring it out because we’re playing faster. We play with a lot of freedom and don’t follow a standard approach.

All five of the Sparks’ starters have been contributing significantly. Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum are each averaging 20.8 points. Azura Stevens and Rickea Jackson trail closely behind with 17.0 and 18.2 points, respectively. On Saturday, Jackson scored 20 points in the first half against the Liberty and made the game-winning basket at the buzzer.

Power poll rankings

Atlanta jumped up to the second spot in the poll, while Minnesota remained at the top. Phoenix dropped to fourth place, while New York came in third. Las Vegas came next, followed by Seattle in fifth place and Indiana in sixth. The Sparks advanced to eighth place by two spots. Los Angeles was followed by Golden State and Washington. The poll was completed by Connecticut, Dallas, and Chicago.

Clark health update

There is currently no estimated timing of return for Caitlin Clark, who is still out due to a right groin injury. During last week’s Fever visit to New York, Indiana’s top guard sought a second evaluation on the issue. The team declared that the goal of her recuperation was to preserve her long-term health and that there were no indications of further harm.

Player of the week

After helping the Fever win 2-1 last week with an average of 28.3 points, four assists, and 1.7 steals, Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell was named the AP player of the week. Alyssa Thomas of Phoenix, Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby of Los Angeles, and Napheesa Collier of Minnesota were among the other athletes who received votes.

Game of the week

Minnesota vs. New York, Wednesday. The players from last year’s WNBA Finals are reuniting for the first time this season. In a dramatic overtime Game 5, the Liberty prevailed in that series.

— Wire reports and staff

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