There hasn’t been a lot successful taking place for the Los Angeles Sparks, however they’d their greatest lack of the season final week towards the Connecticut Solar. No, not as a result of they misplaced 79-70, considered one of 5 losses the group has suffered throughout their present highway journey.
The precise defeat occurred 4 minutes into the sport, when Cameron Brink went down with a non-contact damage.
It did not look good in actual time as she screamed in agony and needed to be carried to the locker room. The next day, the worst-case state of affairs grew to become a actuality because the group introduced she had torn her ACL.
Ahead Cameron Brink suffered a left torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the course of the first quarter of Tuesday’s sport on the Connecticut Solar. Further particulars will likely be offered at a later date.
— LA Sparks PR (@LASparksPR) June 19, 2024
Brink’s absence is devastating for the younger Sparks. She was averaging 7.5 factors, 5.3 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks per sport and began in all 15 of her video games. Changing her is inconceivable, however that’s the job for Sparks head coach Curt Miller.
Li Yueru’s probability to shine
If Los Angeles’ first sport sans Brink is any indication, Yueru would be the new starter and get most of Brink’s minutes within the rotation. It could appear to be lots for Yueru, however the Chinese language middle has proven flashes of brilliance and can now have an extended leash to make errors and study from them on the WNBA stage.
Li Yueru is a piece in progress however she’s coachable. Was talking with Normal Supervisor Ragen Pebley on the bench speaking about submit up positioning and instantly stepped onto the ground to place it into observe. #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/O0fGgaA8v9
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) June 6, 2024
In opposition to the New York Liberty, she had a modest three-point and two-rebound sport. Hopefully, she will be able to come into her personal and proceed to enhance so the Sparks can add to their four-win complete.
Which bench participant will step up?
With the lineup quick one other participant, the bench turns into far more necessary. The Sparks have struggled to get constant manufacturing from the non-starters, however they’ve gamers with the potential to take action.
Lexie Brown was capturing 41 % from 3-point vary final season, however her common has fallen to 30 % in 2024. If she will be able to present constant outdoors capturing once more, it might assist the group improve its 77.3 factors per sport complete, which is the third lowest within the league. Zia Cooke is a guard who has hardly ever seen the ground in 2024 however lastly obtained a chance versus the Liberty and performed effectively. She ended the sport with 13 factors on 4-for-7 capturing. Rae Burrell is one other participant who has been glued to the bench earlier than getting some run with Brink out. She took benefit of her time, enjoying 22 minutes and scoring 11 factors whereas grabbing 4 rebounds towards New York.
Brink’s absence shouldn’t be good for this franchise, but when this trio can step up, it might present that also they are a part of the Sparks’ future and assist the group win some video games as they try and return to the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.
Do not forget Azurá Stevens
Azurá Stevens has but to make her 2024 debut, and he or she is a participant who might very effectively assist flip this season round. In 2023, she had a profession 12 months, averaging 10.8 factors and 5.9 rebounds. It was thought that one other 12 months below coach Miller’s steerage might take her to a different stage, similar to it has for Dearica Hamby. She is at present recovering from surgical procedure on her left arm, and no additional updates have been given, however she is anticipated to play someday this 12 months.
The trail ahead will likely be a rocky one for Miller and the Sparks. This 12 months was all the time extra in regards to the younger gamers’ improvement than a win-loss report. Now, one of the vital necessary gamers is not going to get that improvement, and the group will probably lose extra as a consequence of her absence.
Basketball, nevertheless, by no means stops, and no WNBA group will give the Sparks grace due to their unhealthy luck. The video games will proceed, and Miller should discover the correct starters, develop his different rookie, Rickea Jackson, and see if bench gamers like Brown, Burrell and Cooke can step up and assist this group win some video games.
Let’s all hope Brink has a wholesome restoration and the Sparks can spend the remainder of 2024 discovering out who ought to be on the roster in 2025.
