Stanford star Cameron Brink won’t have to leave the state when she starts her WNBA career.
The Los Angeles Sparks selected the 6-foot-4 center with the second overall pick during Monday’s draft, making her the first Stanford player to be selected with a top three pick since Chiney Ogwumike in 2014.
As expected, the Indiana Fever picked Iowa guard Caitlin Clark first overall.
Brink was this past season’s Pac-12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 17.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field.
When asked what skills will translate most to the WNBA, Brink told the ESPN pre-draft show, “I think it will be my ability to guard guards. I think I still need to develop my offensive skills, I think that will come with time. But I think immediately I can switch one through five. That’s what I can bring to the table immediately.”
Brink led Stanford to a Sweet 16 appearance, where the Cardinal fell to Final Four participant North Carolina State.
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The Sparks finished last season 17-23 and missed the playoffs.
Brink will be joining an L.A. team that features Ogwumike, Lexie Brown and former Cal guard Layshia Clarendon. Brink will look to fill the hole that was left by Ogwumike’s sister and the Sparks leading scorer from last season, Nneka Ogwumike, who departed for the Seattle Storm in free agency.
Brink finished her career at Stanford winning a national championship in 2021, earning two Pac-12 Player of the Year awards (2022, 2024) and three Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors (2022-2024). She leaves Stanford as the Cardinal’s all-time leader in blocks with 424.