"Park Ji-hyun's playing time to increase" — Local U.S. outlook... With 'key' player Cameron Brink's return, WNBA survival chance comes for her

*This content was translated by AI.

A new opportunity has arrived for Park Ji-hyun (LA Sparks), who is engaged in a fierce survival battle on the WNBA stage. With a key player from her team sidelined due to injury, there is now a possibility that Park's playing time will increase.

On the 16th (Korean time), U.S. sports specialty outlet RotoWire reported that "Sparks' big man Cameron Brink has suffered a fibula fracture."

According to reports, Brink was injured during a game against the New York Liberty on the 14th and had to leave the court mid-game. After undergoing medical checks, she sat out the Washington Mystics game held on the 16th.

For the Sparks, this is a significant loss in terms of team strength. In the last 11 games, Brink averaged 19.1 minutes per game, recording 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds. She has been a key rotation player who consistently received playing time on both offense and defense.

RotoWire also noted that "Brink's absence creates a gap in the Sparks' rotation."

However, the departure of a key player can lead to more opportunities for other players. In this process, Park Ji-hyun's name was directly mentioned.

RotoWire projected that "with Brink out, Emma Cannon and Park Ji-hyun are expected to receive increased playing time."

This is a meaningful evaluation for Park Ji-hyun. In the WNBA, world-class players compete fiercely over limited rosters and playing time. For players who have not yet secured a definite starting position, earning the trust of head coach Lynne Roberts and the coaching staff—even within short playing minutes—is paramount.

Amid this, Brink's injury has introduced a new variable. With the possibility of Park receiving more playing time now open, seizing this opportunity has become a crucial task in her WNBA survival competition.

Park Ji-hyun has also previously expressed strong determination to survive in the WNBA for a long time.

In an interview with StarNews on the 14th, Park said, "I thought the WNBA was my ultimate goal, but after coming here, I have developed more goals and plans. I want to grow while playing in the WNBA for as long as possible. Since there are not many Korean players competing in the U.S., I also want to promote Korean basketball."

Fortunately, local evaluations of Park Ji-hyun are positive. Earlier, Coach Roberts praised Park's high basketball IQ and meticulous preparation attitude.

This season, Park has appeared in 29 games, averaging 9.1 minutes per game with 2.4 points and 1.0 rebounds. Her field goal percentage stands at 41.4%. Although she has no record of starting a game yet, she continues to compete for a rotation spot within limited opportunities.

The Sparks are set to face the Connecticut Sun on the 19th at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. With Brink's physical condition emerging as a variable, attention is focused on whether Park can secure more playing time in the next game.

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*This content was translated by AI.