LOS ANGELES -- It’s hard to blame Sparks fans for being extremely optimistic at the moment.
The Sparks (11-14) have risen from the dead and gotten themselves into the suddenly messy playoff race. The team has won their last five games. The last three were on the road and it was punctuated by a W against the defending champions, the New York Liberty, due to a thrilling Rickea Jackson game-winner. Even before that win streak, the Sparks have played well in July; they are 6-2 this month.
And now they are adding a familiar face back into the fold. Cameron Brink will be active for the first time since tearing her ACL and meniscus on June 18th of last year in Connecticut. For the first time in years, the Sparks injury report is clear and clean.
7/29/25 Sparks Game Status Report vs. Aces:
— LA Sparks PR (@LASparksPR) July 28, 2025
“July 29th, we’ll have all 11 players healthy,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said on Monday during practice. “Praise God.”
"I'm just very excited,” Brink told John W. Davis of the Southern California News Group about her return. “Very humbled by this experience. It's no easy thing to come back from. Just very excited."
Exclusive: Cameron Brink shares her excitement before her first game back in 13 months after recovering from a season-ending knee injury. pic.twitter.com/MOG8qIrl2i
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) July 28, 2025
Even if they’re one of the hottest teams in the league and all healthy for the first time since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the Sparks are going to be tested by the Las Vegas Aces.
The Aces (13-13) don’t have the greatest record at the moment but they have been the standard in the league for years. And as long as they have three-time MVP and owner of a tiny car A’ja Wilson, they’ll be formidable. The Sparks did split the two games played with the Aces in Las Vegas earlier this season.
“They're still the Aces in a sense and they have a very talented team,” forward Dearica Hamby said about her former team. “They're struggling this season but they're still very capable. Eliminating A’ja’s touches, just making it really difficult for her, and not letting her have much space.”
What has stood out for the Sparks is their explosive offense. They have scored 92 or more points during their five-game winning streak and 100 points in their last two games.
“That's cool but defense is going to win games,” Hamby said, who was just named Western Conference Player of the Week and is averaging close to 20 points and nine boards in her last nine games. “We're outscoring people but we also saw in New York, we're playing teams that can also score the ball that way. We've got to learn how to play defense.”
Coach Roberts joked about that when asked about the Aces.
“Score more points,” Roberts mused. “They've got Olympians. They're loaded. I know their record doesn't show it. This year, I think we're so used to seeing them with 20 wins already. But that does not... I mean, look at our record. I think we're better than our record, too. They're dangerous. And they're well-coached.”
Roberts did talk about Brink’s return helping the defense.
“I think (Brink) looks at our defense and thinks ‘I can do this,’” Roberts said. “’I can step in and make an impact.’ And that's what I'm telling her to focus on. The offense will come. In our offense, the shots will find you. Just help us defensively. Knowing she's back there can allow us to be a little more aggressive.”
While the Sparks coaching staff figures out what to do defensively against Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd (who came off the bench in the Aces' previous game), and others, forward Emma Cannon has another perspective.
“I feel like right now, our focus is us,” Cannon said. “Continuing to build on the things that we've been building on the last couple of games and continuing to play together, play for each other and whatever happens, happens. But I feel like we're on a good stride right now.”
There is no denying that as the Sparks look to win their sixth game in a row. And with Brink back and everyone healthy, they are looking like a potentially dangerous team.
But that’s potential. Now they have to realize it. And it starts with a victory against a battle-tested team in the Aces and to extend the longest current win streak in the league.
"Our goal coming into the season was not to win five games in a row," Roberts said to end the interview. "The goal coming into the season was to make the playoffs. We've done a good job. And winning five in a row helps us get one step closer.
"But the job is not done. And so we've got to stay hungry and stay focused. And continue to play that underdog role."