LOS ANGELES — The discussion around roster sizes in professional sports has become increasingly pertinent in recent years, particularly in the WNBA. Recently, this topic gained traction on the Straight 2 Cam Podcast, hosted by Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink and her co-host, Sydel Curry-Lee.
“The current [WNBA] rosters can only hold 12 [players]. Personally, I think roster sizes need to be expanded before we add any more expansion teams,” Brink said on the podcast.
Her concerns spotlight the challenges teams face with such limited rosters.
“It’s kind of crazy, 12 people for a roster, it’s insane,” she added, emphasizing the strain that injuries and the demands of a rigorous now 44-game season can place on a team’s capacity to perform.
Curry-Lee echoed these sentiments, delving deeper into the practical implications of such limited rosters. “If you talk about analytics going into the season and like a healthy squad, the likelihood that you have a 100% healthy squad at the beginning of a season is very low. Very unlikely,” she added.
With a season fraught with physical challenges, maintaining a fully active roster is often more theoretical than feasible. “You’re not going to have all 12. Someone gets hurt. You’re down to nine at the first game,” she explained, highlighting a common predicament that teams like the Sparks face.
The current situation with the Los Angeles Sparks exemplifies these issues that are being discussed. “That’s us [the Los Angeles Sparks] right now,” Brink shared.
She also shared her personal experiences with the team’s struggles in maintaining a full contingent of players. This reality came into sharp focus when fellow teammate Rae Burrell suffered a 6-8 week injury, sparking further conversation between Brink and Curry-Lee on the roster limitations.
“I think that’s what brought it up when Rae [Burrell] got hurt. You have nine active players going into your second game of the season,” Curry-Lee explained, illustrating the strain this places on an athlete’s performance and the team’s strategy.
The call from within the league for change has been clear for years.
“It just puts a lot of stress on everybody, no wiggle room. Roster sizes need to be increased,” Brink said. As conversations around expansion and player welfare continue, the voices within the league serve as critical guidance for the future of the WNBA. Expanding roster sizes ensures teams maintain competitive and healthy squads throughout the season.
Brink continues to work her way back on the court this season as she recovers from an ACL injury she suffered last season.
