LOS ANGELES — For the first time in franchise history, the Sparks had two of the top four picks in the WNBA draft, and they used them to add a pair of players they hope will be key pieces of a remade roster.
The Sparks selected Stanford’s Cameron Brink with the second overall pick and Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson with the fourth overall pick on Monday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.
“They both were phenomenal in those (draft) interviews,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said. “They talked about winning. They talked about what it takes to be a pro.”
Brink, a 6-foot-4 forward, averaged a double-double with 17.4 points, 11.9 rebounds and 3.7 blocked shots on her way to Pac-12 Player of the Year honors as a senior. She was also named the 2024 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year.
When she was selected, Brink was visibly emotional during her post-pick interview on ESPN.
“It is such a nerve-wrecking environment, we work so hard for this,” said Brink, who had the option to return to Stanford for a fifth season, but announced before the NCAA Tournament that she had declared for the draft. “I’m just very thankful.”
“I had great conversations with the Sparks and Raegan Pebley and (head coach) Curt Miller, and they’re amazing, but you just never know, and I didn’t want to assume anything,” Brink told reporters at the draft. “It’s just such a high-stress environment, as well, so when they called my name, just a huge wave of emotions hit me. When I saw my mom tearing up and my dad, that definitely hit home. Just was super thankful.”
Brink, who helped Stanford win the 2021 national title as a freshman, could be a foundational player to replace the , who signed with the Seattle Storm as an unrestricted free agent in February.
In addition to her defensive prowess as a dynamic shot blocker, Brink, described as a modern basketball player by Pebley, could emerge as a stretch forward and a willing shooter from 3-point range while being an effective interior player who shoots nearly 85% from the free-throw line.
“I love that I get to stay on the West Coast,” Brink told reporters in New York. “And I love that (the Sparks) took a chance on me, and I feel like I’m just going to show that I can work really hard and help them a lot.”
Sparks guard Lexie Brown said she is looking forward to playing with the team’s first-round picks.
“They did a great job,” Brown said. “They didn’t succumb to the chatter of who they think that they should pick, who is going to sell tickets, who is going to get the most views or something like that. We picked two amazing players that are going to do just that, sell tickets and get views. They fit in this in this culture, perfectly, seamlessly.”
Brown, who said she is excited to play with Brink, revealed that the Sparks’ front office picked her brain over the last few weeks to get her opinion on who the team should draft.
“I had some conversations with them the last few weeks, who they were considering, they really did ask me how I felt about this upcoming draft class and it meant a lot me. I think they did a great job and I’m really excited,” Brown continued.
The Sparks had acquired the fourth overall pick in a trade with the Seattle Storm during the free agency period. Jackson, a 6-2 forward, averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds as a senior for the Volunteers.
“I’m just grateful that L.A. believed in me,” she told reporters at the draft. “They see something in me, and I see something in them, too. I had great talks with them prior to the draft, so I’m just grateful for it all.
“I feel like I’m excited to bring my versatility, play at any position, taking advantage of whether it’s a small guard on me or bigger or slower player. I’m excited about that.”
Sparks guard Zia Cooke was pleased with the addition of Jackson.
“(The Sparks are) getting a dominant player,” Cooke said. “She talks her stuff too. She doesn’t play around. I think that’s that Detroit in her. She’s going to come and she’s going to be ready to play. I think it’s going to be great. She’s a great listener. She wants to be better each and every day. She deserves to be here. She’s a great fit for us.”
Sparks guard Rae Burrell said the new rookies must give themselves grace as they transition to professional basketball.
“I would just say be true to yourself and look to your vets for a little bit of comfort and guidance because I feel like that’s what I did,” Burrell said. “I was blessed to have great vets coming into the Sparks, Lexie to name one, just to show me the way.”
Sparks guard Aari McDonald added that once a player is drafted, their status as a lottery pick goes out the window.
“It means nothing, honestly,” McDonald said. “You have to keep doing what you’ve done to get to this league and always be willing to grow and learn from one another and just keep doing your think.”
The Sparks’ draft party in downtown Los Angeles was attended by a host of basketball luminaries, including Lakers legend Magic Johnson, who is a part of the team’s ownership group and Naismith Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, who explained what it is like to go from being college player to a pro in less than two weeks.
“It’s only a matter of adjusting to the game itself, the speed a little bit, the physicality,” Miller said. “But once they get a couple wins under their belt and kind of learn the language of the game and the speed of the game, they will be fine.”
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South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso, a fan favorite among Sparks fans, was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky.
The Sparks selected USC’s McKenzie Forbes with their third-round pick (28th overall). The 6-foot forward averaged 14.3 points and shot 37.4% from 3-point range as a senior.
The Sparks were 17-23 last season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Sparks coach Curt Miller said he’s looking forward to a competitive training camp with several players fighting for roster spots. Miller is eagerly awaiting his second season, which will most likely feature a team with multiple rookies and second- and third-year players.
“I’m not going to put any limitations on this team,” Miller said. “We know who we are. We know we have some youth but can’t wait to get to work with them.”
The Sparks will open the season on May 15 against the Atlanta Dream at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid.
It was a mixed reaction to the Sparks selecting Stanford’s Cameron Brink with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis)
Zia Cooke is excited that the Sparks selected Rickea Jackson with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis)
Magic Johnson has arrived to the Sparks Draft Party in downtown Los Angeles. Johnson was greeted by students from Morningside High School in Inglewood and Cheryl Miller.
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis)
