Cameron Brink didn’t hold back on her “Straight to Cam” podcast, where she revealed that she felt “icked out” by the Los Angeles Sparks’ male practice player tryouts.
Speaking with her co-host, Sydel Curry-Lee, Brink explained that while WNBA teams frequently practice against male players—often from local college teams—the way the Sparks promoted the tryouts on social media drew unwanted and inappropriate attention.
Cameron Brink: “I guess my confession is I’m really icked out by the potential new practice players.”
Sydel Curry-Lee: “Okay, what? I haven’t seen the post. Can you give me an example?”
Cameron Brink: “It’s basically just like a flyer. It’s like me, Derica, Rekia, and Kelsey. And it’s like male practice players wanted. And usually, we use like USC college guys that also like do it for the women’s team at USC.”
“And all the comments are like, let Cameron Brink back me down, like, or something about Rekia or something about Kelsey. And now I’m just like, preferably they’re gay.”
Sydel Curry-Lee: “No, for real.That’s like, they need to go through a heavy HR training.”
Cameron Brink: “Who are we trusting coming into this gym?
Sydel Curry-Lee: “But the nerve to just like sit there on their phones and be like, I want to back it up on Cameron.”
Cameron Brink: “You want to back it up on me?”
Sydel Curry-Lee: “No, but like, could you imagine?”
Cameron Brink: “I’m not boxing anyone out… Lynne, our new coach is going to be screaming at me for not rebounding. I’m not boxing out anyone.”
.@cameronbrink22 has some thoughts on the male practice player tryouts. 😬
Episode 8 drops tomorrow at 1PM ET/10AM PT! pic.twitter.com/iPfmi18KxM
— Straight to Cam (@straight2cam) March 16, 2025
Brink’s discomfort isn’t just about internet trolls making inappropriate comments—it’s about the potential safety concerns that come with inviting unknown male players into their training environment. Brink jokingly added that the situation could become even more uncomfortable during physical drills like boxing out for rebounds, where players have to use their bodies to establish position.
While Brink was somewhat sarcastic, her concerns reflect a broader issue: WNBA players frequently deal with objectification and uncomfortable attention.
Instead of being recognized for their athleticism, they often find themselves at the center of inappropriate conversations, and the Sparks’ open casting call inadvertently invited the wrong kind of responses.
It’s common for WNBA teams to scrimmage against male practice players, usually former college or semi-pro players who can provide a different level of physicality to prepare WNBA athletes for their games. However, the open nature of the Sparks’ tryouts, combined with the way they were promoted, led to a reaction that clearly made Brink uneasy.
The Los Angeles Sparks’ social media post about the tryouts wasn’t necessarily problematic in itself, but it provided an unfortunate lesson in how women’s sports are often perceived differently.
The LA Sparks plan to hold male practice player tryouts next month 👀
(h/t @kicks) pic.twitter.com/og2eV46mtZ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 13, 2025
Instead of focusing on how male practice players help WNBA players improve, the post became a magnet for unwanted attention and jokes at the expense of the Sparks’ stars.
While the April 12 tryout at El Camino College in Los Angeles will still go forward, Brink’s concerns highlight the need for more careful vetting and a professional approach when selecting practice players.
In the future, WNBA teams may need to rethink how they promote such opportunities to avoid similar uncomfortable situations.
Ultimately, Brink’s reaction underscores the reality that even elite female athletes can’t escape certain societal biases. But as the WNBA continues to gain recognition and respect, conversations like this will hopefully push for better protections and considerations for its players—both on and off the court.
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