Lynne Roberts provides key Kelsey Plum, Cameron Brink injury updates

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Sparks are currently without star guard Kelsey Plum and third-year center Cameron Brink, both of whom are sidelined due to injury. With the Sparks’ next game on Sunday at home against the New York Liberty, head coach Lynne Roberts was cautiously optimistic that Plum could be back, while acknowledging that Brink was going to be out in the short-term.

“KP is day-to-day. I don’t know if she’s going to play on Sunday so it’ll probably be a Sunday decision would be my guess. So hopefully we can get her out there a little tomorrow [at practice], see how she looks, but we’re not gonna rush her,” Roberts said following Friday’s practice. “Cameron is out. She’s got a good ankle sprain that she’s rehabbing the heck out of, but that’s a ways away.”

Cameron Brink initially suffered the ankle injury in the second half of the Sparks’ loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Monday. She exited to the locker room and did not return. Kelsey Plum did suit up in the loss, but  was ruled out for the Sparks’ game against the Minnesota Lynx this past Wednesday for what was listed as a lower leg injury.

Plum missed three games earlier this season following an ankle sprain, and the Sparks went 1-2 in her absence. The four-time All-Star is off to one of the best starts of her career, putting up career-highs across the board.

In the 11 games she’s played in so far, she’s averaging a career-best 25.0 points, which is good enough for second in the league, 2.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.3 steals. She’s shooting 54 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from the 3-point line and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line.

With the absence of Plum, the Sparks made a move to fortify their backcourt depth with the signing of fifth-year guard Kiana Williams. To make room for Williams on the active roster, the team waived second-year center Sania Feagin. Feagin had been working her way back from an injury of her own, and only played sparingly going back to her rookie year.

But with Brink sidelined, the Sparks are down to only two traditional bigs in Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby. That will open up an opportunity for veteran forward Emma Cannon. Cannon saw extended minutes during the Sparks’ loss to the Lynx, and Roberts was pleased with her performance.

Moving forward, for however long Brink is out, the team is anticipating using her more often as a physical big who can also space the floor with her 3-point shooting.

“Emma Cannon, we’re gonna need her,” Roberts said. “She’s physical and sets screens, she’ll execute. She’s got six fouls to give so she knows she’s gonna play hard, but we’re gonna rely on her a little bit too.

“We need some people out there that are not afraid to just set a hard one, lay wood on somebody. She’ll do that and she’ll defend like that too. You’re not gonna roll up on her. She’ll just stop right there. She’s remarkably strong.”

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