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Cameron Brink

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Cameron Brink
Brink with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2024
No. 22 – Los Angeles Sparks
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueWNBA
Personal information
Born (2001-12-31) December 31, 2001 (age 22)
Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeStanford (2020–2024)
WNBA draft2024: 1st round, 2nd overall pick
Selected by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024–presentLos Angeles Sparks
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Representing the  United States
Women's basketball
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 Thailand Team
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Belarus Team
Women's 3x3 basketball
FIBA 3x3 World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2023 Austria Team

Cameron Lee Brink[1] (born December 31, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at Stanford. She attended Mountainside High School and Southridge High School, both in her hometown of Beaverton, Oregon, where she was a McDonald's All-American and ranked the number three player in her class by ESPN.

As a freshman at Stanford, Brink helped her team win the national championship. In her sophomore season, she shared Pac-12 Player of the Year honors and led her team to the Final Four. As a junior, Brink received the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year award and became Stanford's all-time leader in blocks. In her senior season, she was named Pac-12 Player of the Year for a second time. Brink has won two gold medals with the United States at the youth international level and led the national 3x3 team to the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup title, where she was named the tournament's most valuable player (MVP).

Early life

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Brink was born on December 31, 2001, in Princeton, New Jersey.[2][3] She lived in Amsterdam for three years, from age eight, because of her parents' jobs at Nike and returned to the United States before starting sixth grade.[4][5] Brink was not initially interested in basketball, preferring art as a child and being drawn to volleyball after watching the 2012 Summer Olympics.[6] She began playing basketball after attending a camp held by her godfather, Dell Curry, while her family was visiting Curry's family in Charlotte, North Carolina.[5] Upon returning to Amsterdam, Brink played for her school and was the youngest player on the team.[7] One year later, her family moved to Oregon, where she joined a basketball club.[6]

High school

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Brink played basketball for Southridge High School in Beaverton, Oregon for three seasons under head coach Mike Bergmann. As a freshman, she averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game, helping her team win the Class 6A state title.[5] In her sophomore season, Brink led Southridge to a 28–1 record and a second straight Class 6A state championship, averaging 17.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.[8] Her team won all 26 games against in-state opponents by double digits.[9] She was named Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.[10]

Entering her junior season, Brink entered a leading role for Southridge,[11] averaging 21.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She led her team to the 6A state final and received USA Today Oregon Player of the Year honors, while repeating as Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year.[12] For her senior season, Brink transferred to Mountainside High School in Beaverton.[13] She averaged 19.7 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.5 blocks per game as a senior. She missed five games with a high ankle sprain and played through injury at the state tournament.[14] Brink was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic,[15][16] which were both canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

In addition to basketball, Brink played volleyball for Southridge as a middle blocker. She helped the team win its first state championship as a sophomore, recording nine kills and five blocks against Central Catholic High School in the Class 6A final.[18]

Brink was considered a five-star recruit and the number three player in the 2020 class by ESPN.[19] On November 7, 2018, she committed to Stanford over scholarship offers from Oregon and UConn.[11] Brink described Stanford as her dream school and was drawn there by her relationships with head coach Tara VanDerveer and assistant coach Kate Paye. She also felt that attending the university would benefit her after her playing career due to its strong academic prowess.[11][20] Brink had received an offer from Stanford after a camp at age 13, where she impressed then-assistant coach Amy Tucker during a scrimmage against a college team.[7]

College career

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Freshman season

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On November 25, 2020, Brink made her college debut, recording 17 points and 9 rebounds in a 108–40 win over Cal Poly.[21] On March 5, 2021, she posted a season-high 24 points while also having 11 rebounds and five blocks in a 79–45 victory against Oregon State at the Pac-12 tournament semifinals.[22] Brink was named to the all-tournament team after Stanford won the Pac-12 tournament.[23] Brink helped her team win its first national championship since 1992, contributing 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks in a 54–53 win over Arizona in the title game.[24] As a freshman, Brink averaged 9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, and was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. She set a program single-season record with 88 blocks.[2]

Sophomore season

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Brink in 2021

In her sophomore season, Brink assumed a leading role for Stanford with Haley Jones.[25] On November 25, 2021, she recorded 21 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks in a 69–66 win over fourth-ranked Indiana.[26] On January 30, 2022, Brink had 25 points and 15 rebounds in a 75–69 victory over eighth-ranked Arizona.[27] On February 6, she posted a season-high 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in an 83–57 win against USC.[28] Brink helped Stanford win the Pac-12 tournament, where she was named to the all-tournament team.[29] In the Elite Eight of the 2022 NCAA tournament, she posted 10 points, six rebounds and six blocks in a 59–50 win over Texas, leading her team back to the Final Four.[30] As a sophomore, Brink averaged 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, setting a new program single-season record with 91 blocks. She led Stanford with 13 double-doubles.[2] She earned Pac-12 Player of the Year from the media, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 Team and All-Defensive Team honors. Brink was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press (AP) and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), and made the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America team.[31]

Junior season

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On January 29, 2023, Brink recorded her first triple-double, with 16 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocks in a 62–54 win over Oregon.[32] She surpassed Jayne Appel as Stanford's all-time leader in blocks on February 17, after posting 12 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in a 50–47 victory over USC.[33] As a junior, Brink averaged 15.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game, and was named All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.[34] She received the WBCA Defensive Player of the Year award as the top defensive player in the nation.[35] Brink earned second-team All-American honors from the AP and the USBWA, while repeating as a WBCA All-American. She ranked third among Division I players in blocks per game and broke her own single-season program record with 118 blocks.[36]

Senior season

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On November 19, 2023, Brink recorded a career-high 29 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks in an 82–79 overtime win over Duke.[37] On February 29, 2024, she posted 25 points and a career-high 24 rebounds in a 67–63 victory over Oregon State.[38] Brink was selected as Pac-12 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year by the league's coaches and media. She made her third All-Pac-12 and conference All-Defensive teams.[39] On March 12, Brink declared for the 2024 WNBA draft.[40]

Professional career

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WNBA

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Brink (left) and Napheesa Collier in 2024

Brink was selected as the second pick of the 2024 WNBA draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.[41] Cameron Brink made her WNBA professional debut on May 4, 2024 in the Sparks' first pre-season game. The game was held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta as the league's annual Canada Game. Brink went on to start for the Los Angeles Sparks in the 84–79 win against the Seattle Storm. In her first official game, she accrued 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks while playing twenty minutes. On June 18, 2024, Brink exited the Sparks' 79–70 loss against the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter after suffering an apparent leg injury. The next day, it was announced Brink suffered a torn ACL, prematurely ending her season.[42]

National team career

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Brink represented the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup in Belarus.[43] She averaged 3.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, as her team won the gold medal.[3] Brink helped the United States win another gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Thailand, averaging 2.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[44]

Brink played for the United States national 3x3 team at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup in Austria. She helped her team win the gold medal and was named tournament MVP after leading the competition with 39 rebounds and 10 blocks.[45] Brink was initially named to the United States 3x3 team for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[46] However, after her ACL injury sidelined her indefinitely, she had to be replaced on the team by Dearica Hamby.[47]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  FG%  Field goal percentage
 3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage  RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game
 SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  TO  Turnovers per game  PPG  Points per game
 Bold  Career high  *  Led Division I  °  Led the league  ‡  WNBA record

WNBA

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Regular season

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Stats current through end of 2024 season

WNBA regular season statistics[48]
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2024 Los Angeles 15 15 22.0 .398 .323 .840 5.3 1.7 1.1 2.3 2.3 7.5
Career 1 year, 1 team 15 15 22.0 .398 .323 .840 5.3 1.7 1.1 2.3 2.3 7.5

College

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NCAA statistics
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PPG
2020–21 Stanford 32 20 18.3 .581 .367 .647 6.6 0.9 0.5 2.8 1.3 9.9
2021–22 Stanford 35 34 21.9 .556 .355 .615 8.1 1.2 0.9 2.6 1.6 13.5
2022–23 Stanford 34 34 24.8 .486 .213 .848 9.6 1.8 0.5 3.5 2.6 15.1
2023–24 Stanford 34 34 25.5 .511 .304 .836 11.9 2.8 0.8 3.7* 2.8 17.4
Career 135 122 22.5 52.7 29.9 76.0 9.1 1.7 0.7 3.1 1.9 14.0

Off the court

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Personal life

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Brink is the daughter of Greg Brink and Michelle Bain-Brink. Her family are close friends with the family of National Basketball Association (NBA) player Stephen Curry, whose mother, Sonya, is Brink's godmother. Her mother was roommates with Sonya at Virginia Tech, where her father played on the basketball team. Brink has an older brother, Cy.[49]

Brink began dating Ben Felter after meeting at Stanford University where they were both student athletes. Felter was a member of the rowing team. The couple began dating on March 10, 2021.[50] On September 30, 2024, Brink and Felter got engaged after he proposed to her on a rooftop terrace at the five-star Shangri-La hotel in Paris. Brink had been in Paris attending the Balenciaga show.[51]

Brink has advocated for the destigmatization of mental health, publicly sharing her personal struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic and the benefits of counseling. In September 2022, she received the CalHOPE Courage Award, presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America to student-athletes in California for overcoming stress, anxiety and mental trauma.[52]

Business interests

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Brink was estimated to be one of the highest-earning women's college basketball players from name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.[53] In 2023, she signed an NIL deal with Chegg as part of a campaign to support student mental health, inspired by her own struggles with anxiety.[4] Later that year, Brink became the first female basketball player to sign with New Balance.[54] She has also signed deals with Urban Outfitters and Netflix.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Brink - FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023". fiba3x3.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Cameron Brink – Women's Basketball". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Cameron Brink (USA)'s profile – FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018". FIBA. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Laase, Eden (February 8, 2023). "The many layers of Stanford's Cameron Brink". Just Women's Sports. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Hawthorne, Jonathan (May 24, 2017). "Oregon prospect Cameron Brink carries advice from Steph Curry to USA Basketball trials". ESPN. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Kiefer, David (March 15, 2022). "The Truth in First Impressions". Stanford University Athletics. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ingemi, Marisa (November 6, 2022). "Stanford's Cameron Brink guided by basketball, mental health, and family". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Olson, Dan (October 29, 2018). "No. 2 junior prospect Cameron Brink commits to Stanford". ESPN. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Daschel, Nick (March 10, 2018). "Southridge makes a case as an all-time great after silencing Benson 46-27 in girls 6A championship game". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Southridge High School Student-Athlete Named Gatorade Oregon Girls Basketball Player of the Year" (PDF). Gatorade Player of the Year. March 19, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c Humburg, JD (November 7, 2018). "Cameron Brink: Southridge star, nation's No. 2 prospect, 'brother' of Stephen Curry commits to Stanford". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Stanford women draw another talented group of hoop recruits". Palo Alto Weekly. November 13, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Humburg, JD (February 26, 2020). "Cameron Brink on leaving Southridge: Oregon's top girls basketball player says she needed 'a fresh start – new school, new team'". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  14. ^ Humburg, JD (April 17, 2020). "6A all-state basketball: Fledgling program, serious injury … no matter the challenge, never count out the remarkable Cameron Brink". The Oregonian. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  15. ^ "Brink to Jordan Brand Classic". Stanford University Athletics. February 18, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  16. ^ McCord, AJ (March 13, 2020). "Mountainside's Cameron Brink among Top 24 players in US". KOIN. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  17. ^ Borzello, Jeff (March 12, 2020). "McDonald's, Jordan Brand high school games won't be held". ESPN. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  18. ^ Ulmer, Jerry (November 4, 2017). "Top-seeded Southridge wins first title by sweeping No. 2 Central Catholic in 6A volleyball final". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Cameron Brink 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Rayburn, Jacob (November 9, 2018). "Top-five junior Cameron Brink committed to her dream school". CardinalSportsReport. Rivals. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  21. ^ "No. 2 Stanford women get balanced effort, rout Cal Poly". USA Today. Associated Press. November 25, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  22. ^ Gordon, Sam (March 5, 2021). "Stanford freshman Cameron Brink steals show in semifinals". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Crown the Cardinal". Stanford University Athletics. Associated Press. March 7, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  24. ^ Copeland, Kareem; Raggs, Tramel; Wang, Gene (April 4, 2021). "Stanford defeats Arizona to win its first NCAA women's title since 1992". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  25. ^ Parker, Ben (March 16, 2022). "Haley Jones and Cameron Brink named AP All-Americans". CardinalSportsReport. Rivals. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  26. ^ "Stanford women beat No. 4 Indiana in Bahamas tournament". The Mercury News. Associated Press. November 25, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  27. ^ Kroner, Steve (January 30, 2022). "Cameron Brink leads No. 2 Stanford over No. 8 Arizona in title rematch". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  28. ^ "Cameron Brink's big game helps No. 2 Stanford women rout USC". San Francisco Chronicle. February 6, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "Cameron Brink: Improved defense key to Stanford securing 2022 Pac-12 Tournament title". Pac-12 Conference. March 6, 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Schnell, Lindsay (March 28, 2022). "As Stanford's Cameron Brink dominates defensively, a torch is passed". USA Today. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "2021–22 Season in Review". Stanford University Athletics. April 18, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  32. ^ Philippou, Alexa (January 29, 2023). "'A great game': Stanford's Brink posts triple-double with blocks". ESPN. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  33. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (February 17, 2023). "Cameron Brink sets Stanford blocks record as Cardinal tops USC". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  34. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (February 28, 2023). "Stanford's Cameron Brink named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  35. ^ "Stanford's Brink named 2023 WBCA NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. March 27, 2023. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  36. ^ "Consensus All-American". Stanford University Athletics. March 30, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  37. ^ Wagaman, Michael (November 19, 2023). "Brink big in OT as No. 6 Stanford edges Duke 82-79". Associated Press. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  38. ^ "AP Player of the Week: Stanford's Cameron Brink helped Stanford wrap up 27th Pac-12 title". Associated Press. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  39. ^ Arnold, Geoffrey A. (March 6, 2024). "Former Oregon prep star Cameron Brink voted as Pac-12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year". The Oregonian. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  40. ^ Philippou, Alexa (March 12, 2024). "Stanford star Cameron Brink declaring for WNBA draft". ESPN. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  41. ^ Borba, Kevin (April 15, 2024). "BREAKING: Stanford Cardinal star Cameron Brink taken by the LA Sparks with No. 2 pick in the WNBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  42. ^ Voepel, Michael (June 19, 2024). "Sparks rookie forward Brink suffers torn ACL". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  43. ^ "No. 1 prospects Samantha Brunelle, Cameron Brink headline USA Basketball U17 roster". ESPN. May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  44. ^ "Cameron Brink (USA)'s profile – FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2019". FIBA. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  45. ^ Borba, Kevin (June 4, 2023). "Cameron Brink wins MVP en route to USA women winning gold at 2023 FIBA 3×3". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  46. ^ Kraus, Marissa (June 7, 2024). "Cameron Brink reflects on achieving her Olympic dream: 'I don't take it lightly'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  47. ^ "Dearica Hamby replaces Sparks teammate Cameron Brink on US 3x3 Olympic team". AP News. June 24, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  48. ^ "Cameron Brink WNBA Stats". Basketball Reference.
  49. ^ Sulek, Julia Prodes (March 31, 2022). "When she was 8, she told Steph Curry 'believe in yourself.' Now she's starring for Stanford in the Final Four". The Mercury News. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  50. ^ Aizin, Rebecca (June 12, 2024). "Who Is Cameron Brink's Boyfriend? All About His Relationship With the WNBA Star". People.com. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  51. ^ "WNBA Star Cameron Brink Is Engaged to Ben Felter! All About the Surprise Proposal in Paris". People.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  52. ^ "Brink Wins CalHope Courage Award". Stanford University Athletics. September 12, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  53. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (March 9, 2023). "For women in NIL, beauty standards and social-media noise can take a toll". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  54. ^ Benson, Pat (August 14, 2023). "New Balance & Cameron Brink Make History With NIL Deal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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