Cameron Brink, the No. 2 general decide within the 2024 WNBA Draft, is near a return after a 13-month absence from the Los Angeles Sparks lineup. Brink tore the ACL and meniscus in her left knee early in her rookie season, and she said Saturday that she is lastly cleared to play following a prolonged restoration interval. Sparks coach Lynne Roberts dominated Brink out for Saturday’s contest in opposition to the New York Liberty however mentioned she expects the younger ahead to take the ground quickly.
Brink labored her manner again to on-court drills earlier this summer season however was nonetheless restricted to non-contact apply as not too long ago as June. She indicated in an episode of Movie star Wheel of Fortune on June 3 that it will nonetheless take “a pair months” to get again into the sport motion. It was unclear, although, when that episode was recorded.
“I really feel nice. I am tremendous grateful that the Sparks have let me take my time and actually really feel nice coming again,” Brink mentioned after Saturday’s shootaround. “I am excited to be on the market with my teammates.”
Through the 2025 WNBA Draft, ESPN’s Holly Rowe reported that Brink could be again earlier than the All-Star break. That timeline didn’t come to fruition because the festivities unfolded final weekend, however it might solely be a brief delay earlier than Brink makes her long-awaited season debut.
“I’ve put in loads of onerous work,” Brink mentioned. “I really feel like what folks often see is me residing my life usually, however folks do not see the hours and hours that I put within the gymnasium with my trainers, wonderful coaching employees. I have been working my (behind) off, so I undoubtedly see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel for positive.”
Brink’s damage occurred in a June 19, 2024 recreation in opposition to the Connecticut Sun. The previous Stanford star, nationwide champion and Naismith Defensive Participant of the Yr took a slight bump on a drive to the basket, and her left leg buckled as she collapsed to the bottom. She hobbled off the ground and acquired help on her manner into the locker room.
It didn’t take lengthy for Brink to ascertain herself as a defensive weapon on the professional stage as she posted 2.3 blocks per recreation on a mean of simply 22 minutes. She tallied 7.5 factors, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per contest within the small pattern measurement earlier than her damage.
“It is a bit nerve-wracking for positive,” Brink mentioned of her looming return. “I am simply actually going to attempt to be affected person with myself as a result of I am undoubtedly not the place I used to be final 12 months,” she mentioned. “It is nonetheless a piece in progress, however yeah, simply grateful for the followers. Actually excited to have the ability to simply go on the market and do what I really like.”