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There hasn’t been much winning happening for the Los Angeles Sparks, but they had their biggest loss of the season last week against the Connecticut Sun. No, not because they lost 79-70, one of five losses the team has suffered during their current road trip.

The actual defeat happened four minutes into the game, when Cameron Brink went down with a non-contact injury.

It didn’t look good in real time as she screamed in agony and had to be carried to the locker room. The following day, the worst-case scenario became a reality as the organization announced she had torn her ACL.

Brink’s absence is devastating for the young Sparks. She was averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game and started in all 15 of her games. Replacing her is impossible, but that is the task for Sparks head coach Curt Miller.

Li Yueru’s chance to shine

If Los Angeles’ first game sans Brink is any indication, Yueru will be the new starter and get most of Brink’s minutes in the rotation. It may seem like a lot for Yueru, but the Chinese center has shown flashes of brilliance and will now have a longer leash to make mistakes and learn from them at the WNBA level.

Against the New York Liberty, she had a modest three-point and two-rebound game. Hopefully, she can come into her own and continue to improve so the Sparks can add to their four-win total.

Which bench player will step up?

With the lineup short another player, the bench becomes much more important. The Sparks have struggled to get consistent production from the non-starters, but they have players with the potential to do so.

Lexie Brown was shooting 41 percent from 3-point range last season, but her average has fallen to 30 percent in 2024. If she can provide consistent outside shooting again, it could help the team increase its 77.3 points per game total, which is the third lowest in the league. Zia Cooke is a guard who has rarely seen the floor in 2024 but finally got an opportunity versus the Liberty and played well. She ended the game with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting. Rae Burrell is another player who has been glued to the bench before getting some run with Brink out. She took advantage of her time, playing 22 minutes and scoring 11 points while grabbing four rebounds against New York.

Brink’s absence is not good for this franchise, but if this trio can step up, it could show that they are also part of the Sparks’ future and help the team win some games as they attempt to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

Don’t forget Azurá Stevens

Azurá Stevens has yet to make her 2024 debut, and she is a player who could very well help turn this season around. In 2023, she had a career year, averaging 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds. It was thought that another year under coach Miller’s guidance could take her to another level, just like it has for Dearica Hamby. She is currently recovering from surgery on her left arm, and no further updates have been given, but she is expected to play sometime this year.

The path forward will be a rocky one for Miller and the Sparks. This year was always more about the young players’ development than a win-loss record. Now, one of the most important players will not get that development, and the team will likely lose more due to her absence.

Basketball, however, never stops, and no WNBA team will give the Sparks grace because of their bad luck. The games will continue, and Miller must find the right starters, develop his other rookie, Rickea Jackson, and see if bench players like Brown, Burrell and Cooke can step up and help this team win some games.

Let’s all hope Brink has a healthy recovery and the Sparks can spend the rest of 2024 finding out who should be on the roster in 2025.