Sparks get Brink at No. 2, then Jackson 4th

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 Raegen 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 recently departed Nneka Ogwumike, who signed with the Seattle Storm as an unrestricted free agent in February.