Stanford’s Cameron Brink knows she has a foul problem — and she’s working on it

STANFORD, Calif. — From the moment she stepped on court as a Stanford freshman in 2020, Cameron Brink looked like a can’t-miss star. Two years, two Final Four appearances and one national championship later, that seems all the more certain — for the rest of her Cardinal career and beyond in the WNBA.

Just one thing has slowed her down: the official’s whistle.

“It’s been my biggest challenge,” Brink said of foul trouble that sometimes has forced her to the bench in critical moments. “Some games they let a lot go. Other games, from tipoff, it’s very tight. And then sometimes it changes at halftime. I’m always trying to get a gauge to know, ‘I can be this aggressive.’ It’s a fine balance, and I’m still learning to deal with it. Honestly, it’s really hard.”

Brink isn’t complaining, just being pragmatic. It’s an issue to be dealt with and solved. The junior forward is sitting in Stanford’s practice gym on a Saturday afternoon, reflecting on what she has done so far and all that’s left to accomplish. And how to balance that with her own happiness and well-being.

“I would say girls in general can be very hard on themselves,” Brink said. “I see a lot of my teammates I have played with be really hard on themselves, and it just breaks my heart. I see them as such an amazing teammate and player. So I’ve tried to give myself that grace, like, ‘You know you’re more than your stat line, you’re more than your output.’

“I do get really frustrated, and I’m in a bad mood if I’m not satisfied with my performance. My dad always told me to be a goldfish: have a short memory. It’s been a learning process, but having people to support you, your family … it helps you remember you’re not just a player. You’re more than just what you produce.”

Still, Brink is one of the nation’s best, and she relishes the chances to show it. On Sunday, the No. 2 Cardinal face Tennessee (3 p.m. ET, ABC), which comes a month after Stanford’s highest-profile game thus far: a 76-71 overtime loss to No. 1 South Carolina.

Brink was exceptional against the Gamecocks on Nov. 20, with 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, five rebounds and four blocked shots. The only problem? Foul trouble, and her fifth came in overtime, when she scored four points before fouling out with 3:01 to play and Stanford up 65-64. It’s her lone disqualification so far this season; she had eight combined her freshman and sophomore years.

“I just want her to relax and play. Cam is a great player,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “She’s incredibly athletic and versatile and aggressive. She does have to play with more discipline, and with more patience. But I can’t teach someone to do all the things that she does well. I think she can develop the patience and discipline.”