Cameron Brink joins Unrivaled, won’t play until 2026 season
Sparks star Cameron Brink will join newly-formed Unrivaled in 2026 as a player for the Lunar Owls.
The Los Angeles Sparks are in the middle of their long offseason. With free agency not happening until February and the WNBA Draft on Apr. 14, there isn’t much news for L.A.’s only WNBA team.
However, on Tuesday, we got a big announcement that Sparks star Cameron Brink will play for the new league, Unrivaled, as a player for the Lunar Owls. It’s a multi-year deal and she will begin playing for them in 2026.
Cam Brink is UNRIVALED Filling the first wildcard spot with a multiyear deal with the Lunar Owls She will take the court in 2026 ✅ @cameronbrink22 pic.twitter.com/NffHpVpbeb
— Unrivaled Basketball (@Unrivaledwbb) December 17, 2024
Sparks fans do not need to worry about Brink’s involvement with Unrivaled impacting her ability to play in the WNBA.
This is a new league that plays 3x3 basketball during the WNBA offseason. It has a promising start, given that it was founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart and has TV rights contracts with TNT, TruTv and Max.
In an exclusive interview with People, Brink shared her enthusiasm about joining the upstart league.
“It was honestly a really easy yes. [I’m] just honored that they offered me a spot and an opportunity. I’m really excited and super grateful.”
Unrivaled will begin its inaugural season on Jan. 17, but due to Brink recovering from her torn ACL in her left knee, she will not be playing until 2026. Brink did tell People that she’ll be down in Miami, where all the Unrivaled games will take place and be as involved as she possibly can be.
“Obviously I won’t be playing, but I will be supporting full-fledged. I think it’s just going to be a really cool opportunity. Iron sharpens iron, so while I’m there, I’ll be able to train with people and work on my game.
“It’ll be really a huge year of growth for me — so, I’m really excited.”
Prior to her injury, Brink was already looking like a dominant rim protector and a star in the making. Brink started 15 games and averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per game.
Her injury robbed her of the rest of her rookie campaign and took her out of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was set to play for Team USA’s 3x3 team. Her Sparks teammate, Dearica Hamby, was her replacement and USA won the bronze medal in 3x3 play.
Joining Unrivaled means Brink will continue working on her game next offseason and play competitive basketball during the long gap between WNBA seasons.
Hopefully, she will return from her ACL injury in time for the 2025 WNBA season and build on her positive sophomore season with an equally productive time with the Lunar Owls in 2026.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.