Rookie Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks suffered a torn ACL over a week ago, which has unfortunately sidelined her for the rest of the 2024 WNBA season. As a result, she will also be unable to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, leaving an empty slot on Team USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball roster.
Soon after the news of Brink’s injury, Team USA announced that her replacement would be her Sparks teammate, Dearica Hamby. On Friday, ahead of the Sparks game against the Phoenix Mercury, Hamby spoke with the media and gave a one-word take on replacing Brink in the Olympics: “Bittersweet.”
“It’s bittersweet. I’m obviously heartbroken for her. I know how much she wanted to be on that team. I’m looking forward to going to Paris now. Now I’m just kind of soaking it all in and trying to deal with the bittersweet emotions of it. Now I’m trying to be excited for myself,” Hamby said. (via Desert Wave Media)
Brink was set to join her good friend, TCU Horned Frogs star Hailey Van Lith, in Paris on Team USA, but now Hamby will be getting that opportunity. In 15 WNBA games, Brink, a former Stanford Cardinal star, averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. She was in the top five in the league in blocks per game before the injury.
Los Angeles Sparks stars Dearica Hamby and Cameron BrinkKirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Hamby is having her best season as a professional. She is averaging a double-double, with 17.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Hamby attended Wake Forest University before her WNBA career.
