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Cameron Brink provided one of the most memorable defensive sequences of the WNBA season Monday night, but Angel Reese ultimately walked away with the victory and a place in league history.
The Los Angeles Sparks forward rejected Reese twice in approximately five seconds during the first quarter of Atlanta’s 78-71 win at Crypto.com Arena.
Reese attacked Brink in the post, spun toward the basket and attempted to score. Brink timed the play perfectly and blocked the shot. Reese recovered the loose ball and immediately challenged the 6-foot-4 defender again, only for Brink to deny her a second time. The ball went out of bounds after the second block. Reese remained seated on the court and appeared to want a foul call, but officials allowed play to continue.
It was an impressive display of persistence from Reese and elite rim protection from Brink.
Brink shows why she is a defensive building block
Brink entered the WNBA as one of the most accomplished defenders in college basketball. The former Stanford star possesses the length, anticipation and recovery ability necessary to alter shots from several positions. All of those traits were visible during her rapid-fire battle with Reese.
Brink did not bite on Reese’s initial move. After blocking the first attempt, she stayed engaged rather than watching the ball. That allowed her to recover quickly enough to stop Reese again.
A terrific defensive possession for Cameron Brink! pic.twitter.com/gzIpEybhqJ
— WNBA on NBC and Peacock (@WNBAonNBC) August 25, 2026Few defenders would have been able to make both plays.
Brink has given the Sparks an interior presence around which they can build despite an otherwise disappointing season. Los Angeles entered Monday’s game already eliminated from playoff contention and fell to 13-25 with the loss.
The Sparks still made Atlanta work for the victory. They remained close throughout the night before the Dream used their star power and rebounding advantage to complete a perfect four-game West Coast trip.
Reese gets the final word with historic night
The blocked shots provided Brink with an individual highlight, but they did not prevent Reese from controlling the game in other areas. Reese finished with 11 points, 26 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Her 26 boards established a new WNBA single-game record, passing the 24 rebounds Chamique Holdsclaw recorded in 2003.
She also moved past A’ja Wilson for the most rebounds in a single season. Reese finished Monday’s game with 458.
The WNBA recognized Reese’s record-breaking performance after the final buzzer, highlighting both of her rebounding milestones. It was Reese’s 27th double-double of the season and the latest major performance during a remarkable run.
She scored a career-high 31 points against the Phoenix Mercury on Saturday. Before that, she recorded 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while shooting 9-of-9 from the field in a blowout victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
Monday presented a different challenge. Reese was not as efficient around the basket, as illustrated by her sequence against Brink, but she refused to let missed shots remove her from the game.
That mentality helped her produce more rebounds than any player in WNBA history.
MORE: Sparks lose leading scorer from last win before difficult Dream matchup
Two young stars deliver compelling individual battle
Reese and Brink were selected in the same 2024 WNBA draft class, with Los Angeles taking Brink at No. 2 and Chicago selecting Reese at No. 7. Their early careers have followed different paths, but both have demonstrated the ability to become defining frontcourt players for their respective franchises.
Brink’s defensive instincts make her capable of embarrassing even accomplished scorers. Reese’s motor allows her to continue influencing games even when a defender gets the better of her during an individual possession. Monday’s sequence captured those contrasting strengths perfectly.
Brink won the battle with two emphatic blocks. Reese won the game, broke two rebounding records and helped Atlanta improve to 25-13. The Dream now are fighting to secure a top-four seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Sparks are evaluating which players can help lead their next competitive team.
Reese and Brink offered both organizations another reason to believe in their future.
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