Cameron Brink doesn't like the possibility of practicing with male athletes.
Last week, Los Angeles Sparks instructed male athletes to fill out their exemptions and register for practice team tryouts through a social media post.
Brink said he was “shocked” by the appeals to male practice players for the WNBA franchise.
“My confession is that I'm really aware of potential new practice players,” Brink said.
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Los Angeles' Cameron Brink will warm up before his match against the Las Vegas ace on June 9, 2024 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Juan Ocampo/Nbae via Getty Images)
She then pointed out some of the provocative commentary she saw in her reaction to the posted flyers.
“It's basically just a flyer, like me, Diaika (Humvee), Rikkea (Jackson), Kelsey (Plum), and “the male practice athletes wanted.” And I usually use USC college students. This is something like “Cameron Brink Me Down” or something about Kelsey, even in the women's team at USC. Brink said in a recent edition of the “Straight to Cam” podcast.
Caitlin Clark's fever plays more national video games than the crazy ones like Defending Champs,” says the WNBA star.
Brink then expressed her preference for male athletes if the dynamics of practice changed in the near future.
“Now, I need to take a heavy vet of these guys, and if possible they are gay… We trust that we will come to this gym,” she said.
Podcast co-host Sidell Curryleigh came up with the suggestion saying potential registered athletes would “need to undergo heavy HR training.”
Cameron Brink from Los Angeles Sparks will be seen during a match against the sky at Windra Store Arina in Chicago on May 30, 2024. (Jeff Haynes/nbae via Getty Images)
Sparks ultimately closed the training squad's application window due to “overwhelming” demand.
“Thank you for your interest in the practice staff tryout at Los Angeles Sparks. We don't process applications as we received an overwhelming number of applicants. We're grateful for the time and interest in our organization.”
Brink admitted that she made a joke comment, but she also pointed out the differences in physicality that practices about men can present.
“I'm not boxing anyone,” she said. “Our new coach, Lynn (Roberts), will scream at me because it's not a rebound. But I'm not boxing anyone.”
Cameron Brink of Los Angeles Sparks will drive to the basket on May 18, 2024 during a match against ACES at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. (David Becker/nbae via Getty Images)
Many women's college basketball teams use male practice players. At the WNBA level, New York Freedom looked for male athletes through social media. The team said male practice players will be evaluated to determine whether they are “appropriate” and eliminate “impure motivations.”
“We are trying to adapt our physical needs not only to fit our position needs, but also to our physical needs in terms of height and strength,” a Liberty spokesperson told the New York Post last June. “But the most important piece is to make sure they are appropriate and do what we need and sign a contract with the team, but not use this to get it with the players or have impure motives.”
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Sparks said the team has always worked to foster a respectful environment for athletes, and pointed out that it focuses on player safety.
“To be always clear, like our practice team tryouts, sparks players will not participate or attend,” the team said in a statement. “The use of male practice players is an established practice in both the WNBA and women's college basketball, and since the league began in 1997, Sparks has used this approach.
“In addition, players selected to the training squad will undergo a thorough background check process to ensure the safety and well-being of the athletes.”
Brink was the second overall pick in last year's WNBA draft. She suffered a season-ending ACL injury in June. She averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games during her rookie season.
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