The Los Angeles Sparks entered their latest game against the Las Vegas Aces with something to prove. But just an hour before tip-off, the storyline around their sixth game of the regular season shifted dramatically, which pushed Cameron Brink into an even bigger role.
The Sparks kicked off their 2026 WNBA season with a loss to the Aces. So in their rematch, they were hoping to get their revenge behind key players. However, during the pregame interview, head coach Lynne Roberts confirmed that veteran forward Nneka Ogwumike would miss the game.
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According to the coach, Ogwumike suffered a left-hand injury during the Sparks’ previous game against the Phoenix Mercury. While it remains unclear exactly when the injury occurred, she was initially listed as probable on the injury report before being downgraded to OUT following further evaluation.
“Nneka’s a pro’s pro, and she just did not feel like she could be what she needed to be tonight for the team,” Roberts said as per Justin Russo. “It’s a left-hand injury; she injured it in the game, played through it, as a Hall of Fame does, to get the win.”
Against Mercury, Ogwumike led her team with 12 points and 6 rebounds to help them clinch their much-needed second win of the season. Her veteran experiences and consistent numbers make her one of the most important players for this franchise. So the good news is – coach Roberts doesn’t expect this to be a long-term issue.
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“We had imaging done on it, and it’s not a long-term, shouldn’t be a long-term issue,” she further added. “But there’s still a lot of inflammation, soreness, pain, that kind of thing. She’s not ready to go today. Luckily, we don’t play for another week; we play next Friday. Anticipate her being back, hopefully, if things progress.”
So with her sidelined, at least for now, Cameron Brink stepped into the starting lineup for the first time this season as the Sparks rolled out the following five against Las Vegas:
It is also worth noting that this marks a significant moment in her career. Back in 2024, when she first entered the league with the Sparks, she started in all 15 games she played. But last season, that completely flipped, and she didn’t crack a single starting lineup. Even in the opening five games of the 2026 season, she played off the bench.
So, opening against one of the strongest teams in the league, Brink knew this was a major opportunity, and she made the most of it
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Did Cameron Brink rise to the occasion when the Sparks needed her most?
Brink wasted no time and went on to deliver one of her strongest first halves of the season. By halftime, she recorded 9 points while shooting an efficient 4-of-7 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
With Sania Feagin also OUT due to a left ankle injury, the Sparks entered the game extremely thin in the post. But with Brink on the floor, the fans hardly felt like Los Angeles was lacking size or energy inside as she grabbed 6 rebounds
May 23, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) looks on after being hit in the nose against the Las Vegas Aces in the first quarter of their game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
However, her aggressiveness also came with some mistakes. She recorded a team-high four turnovers.
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But what worried fans the most was when Cameron Brink took a hit to the face during a rebounding battle. According to reports, NaLyssa Smith accidentally caught Cameron Brink in the nose with a stray arm while both players fought for positioning under the basket.
While she initially stayed in the game and used two nose plugs to control the bleeding, she eventually went back to the locker room for further treatment after the bleeding did not fully stop.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, the concern did not last long, and she returned to the Sparks bench.
So to put it simply, yes – Brink did rise to the occasion and gave the Sparks a much-needed offensive spark against one of the league’s toughest opponents.
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