Just 3 weeks in, the youthful 2024 WNBA period has experienced no lack of contentious times as a result far.
It all began with the pre-draft chatter from veterans that presumed No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark would have trouble changing to the WNBA. Then, there was the hard foul from Connecticut Solar forward Alyssa Thomas on rookie Chicago Sky ahead Angel Reese that led to an ejection. Past weekend, Sky guard Chennedy Carter said she experienced “no regrets” about giving Clark a shoulder-test in a recreation that was upgraded to a Flagrant 1 foul.
All of people events—and more—have induced plenty of assume items, an apology from a popular sporting activities host and a great deal of harmful debates typically reserved for men’s sports activities. Amid all that, Los Angeles Sparks heart Cameron Brink took a deep breath and resolved all those swirling narratives in a the latest job interview with UPROXX’s Megan Armstrong.
“The most tired narrative is that the vets are versus the rookies—this aged-school vs . new-college narrative—and the narrative that the rookies require to be perfect,” Brink mentioned to Armstrong. “I come to feel like Caitlin Clark has that the worst appropriate now, but even I get that. She experienced three details the other night. I had three details the other night. We’re predicted to be best.
“We were drafted to higher-drafting teams coming off getting rid of seasons, which is good. It really is a finding out method. But people assume us to be ideal, and it really is freaking exhausting. I come to feel like we find out how to tune it out, but continue to, it can be unrealistic, and it variety of just reveals that people will not know basketball.”
Through eight online games, Brink—the No. 2 decide on in the 2024 WNBA draft—is averaging 8.8 factors, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks for each contest. She has scored in double figures 3 moments but concluded with 4 or less factors in 3 of eight game titles.
Despite the fact that she’s just a rookie, Brink now has standpoint about her place in the league. She advised Armstrong she would like to make the WNBA “even additional iconic than it is now”—and not just by putting up double-doubles and blocking shots at the rim.
“I would just say expanding the supporter base to assist all sorts of gamers,” Brink explained. “I will acknowledge there’s a privilege for the young white gamers of the league. That’s not often genuine, but there is a privilege that we have inherently, and the privilege of showing up female. Some of my teammates are far more masculine. Some of my teammates go by they/them pronouns. I want to bring far more acceptance to that and not just have individuals assist us due to the fact of the way that we glance.”
Now that is some remarkable leadership.
