Basketball fans seemingly aren’t thrilled about the possibility of Cameron Brink reuniting with a former Stanford teammate, as the LA Sparks secured the No. 2 pick in the WNBA draft.
Heading into the draft lottery on Nov. 17, the Sparks had the best odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick due to having a combined 23-55 record from 2023-2024. However, the Dallas Wings emerged as the winners of the draft lottery, claiming the top pick and the chance to draft Paige Bueckers from UConn.
For the Sparks, selecting Kiki Iriafen could create a strong pairing in Los Angeles. Iriafen and Brink have extensive experience playing together from their years at Stanford before Brink was drafted by the Sparks and Iriafen transferred to USC for her final collegiate season.
Though the possibility of Brink teaming up with her former teammate in the WNBA grows more likely, many fans are against the idea of their reunion.
Instagram user @mister.nbt joked:
“Plot Twist: Juju declares for the draft.”
Other comments included:
"They do not need another big lmao. this is sick man," said @offthegrid_boo.
"They don’t need kiki man," added @dreytheroyal.
On X/Twitter, fans shared similar sentiments:
“Cameron Brink realizing she’s about to get reunited with Kiki Iriafen but has to pretend to be upset they lost out on Paige lol,” wrote @chloeg_13.
“They wanted that Paige & Brink combo,” said @joegangg.
“Tank for Paige didn’t work,” remarked @lukeclark99.
What’s next for the Sparks?
In addition to securing the No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA draft, the Sparks also hold the No. 13 pick (first in the second round) and the No. 26 and No. 28 picks (first and third in the third round).
The Sparks initially had their sights set on UConn’s Paige Bueckers, an elite guard averaging 21.2 points and 5.2 rebounds. Bueckers would have been an ideal fit for a team that has struggled to fill the guard position since Chelsea Gray’s departure.
While Kiki Iriafen is widely regarded as the next-best option in the draft, the Sparks may still look to address other areas of need. Their frontcourt is already strong, featuring Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Azurá Stevens and Li Yueru.
However, the guard position remains an area requiring attention, even with Kia Nurse, Odyssey Sims, Lexie Brown, and Aari McDonald on the roster. With Brown and McDonald still recovering from injuries, the Sparks may consider prospects such as UConn’s Azzi Fudd, Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles, Texas’ Rori Harmon or South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao.
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