June is the month of Pride. So, it wasn’t particularly out-of-pocket when Los Angeles Sparks and Cameron Brink’s head coach Curt Miller spoke of his secret wish that could bring a revolution among the LGBTQA+. Miller, who had been open about his identity even during college, remains the only openly gay male head coach in men’s basketball.

Speaking of his experience, he shared how he didn’t have many people to look up to in his early days, expressing his desire to become an example for the marginalized. “I didn’t have a role model. I’ve watched so many young gay men in basketball, both men’s and women’s drop out of chasing their dreams, because that’s not a lot of visibility and representation besides myself. We’re losing on too many.”

The video was shared on Instagram by ESPN with the caption “Sparks HC Curt Miller hopes to be the example that encourages LGBTQIA+ people to chase their dreams, both on and off the court 👏.”

Miller joined the Sun as head coach in 2016 after previously serving as an assistant with the Los Angeles Sparks. Under Miller’s leadership from 2016-2022, the Sun made the playoffs in six out of his seven seasons. His impressive coaching record (140-86), guided Connecticut to the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022, however, they were runners-up to the Las Vegas Aces both times. In late 2022, the prodigal son returned to the Sparks as the head coach and now enjoys a mentee in Cameron Brink.

How has Curt Miller’s mentee Cameron Brink performed?

Brink was drafted as the second overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA 2024 draft, going just after the highly acclaimed Caitlin Clark. Since then, she has found her second mother in Dearica Hamby and has become a vital cog of the Sparks. Brink averages 8.2 pointers per game along with 5.9 rebounds per match. Miller’s management, meanwhile, seems to bring out the player’s ‘inner warrior.’

As for the Sparks unit, their season has been average, having been defeated in 7 games and winning just 4. Nonetheless, there are still hopes for their revival. Miller will likely look to find an inspiration of his own and tighten the screws of his Sparks machine.

Very rarely are personal and professional motivations so intricately conjoint and perhaps, a change in tide will be a small step of positive change in the way LGBTQA+ athletes are perceived in the world of sports.