The second overall pick of the 2024 WNBA draft is ready to make her return after an injury-shortened rookie campaign.
Cameron Brink tore her ACL just 15 games into her profession, a brutal injury that required her to miss the remainder of the 12 months and a few of 2025.
It has been over a 12 months.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday night, she makes her long-anticipated return for the Los Angeles Sparks at home against A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces.
Over the course of her first 15 profession games, Brink averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.7 assists. She was just getting began.
“It’s no easy thing to come back back from … I’m just very excited, very humbled by this experience,” Brink said at Monday afternoon’s practice.
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts will probably be cognizant of how much she plays Brink, noting she will probably be on a minute restriction.
“It’s great,” Roberts said. “Not to place an excessive amount of pressure on Cam’s impact immediately … [but] just be within the moment and never worry an excessive amount of about missing a layup … play with gratitude.
“July twenty ninth, we’ll have all 11 players healthy. Sometimes the toughest times in life are the largest lessons … [Brink] will probably be a greater player for this reason.”
She is going to hope to be a good higher player as she sat out for over a 12 months watching her team and others round her take the court.
Brink told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou that she reached out to Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray and Olympic gold medal skier Lindsey Vonn, as each elite athletes also tore their ACLs.
There’s also likelihood she reached out to a different guy who has been in her corner her whole life and happens to be the best shooter of all-time and four-time NBA champion.
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Brink has a direct line to Stephen Curry.
Brink and Curry have an especially fascinating relationship, as they’re godsiblings to at least one one other. Brink’s godparents are Curry’s, and vice versa.
Brink and Curry are in constant contact with each other, with Curry acting because the older sibling, as she gives Brink advice on tips on how to handle life as an expert athlete.
“My favorite advice from him before I got drafted, ‘just enjoy every moment.’ Especially the moments where you type of should be there,” Brink said earlier this 12 months on the Richer Lives by SoFi podcast.
“You’ve got to be there for pre-draft introductions, you may have to be there for certain league requirements so why not bring levity and joy to each space.”
Hopefully Brink was in a position to find levity and joy in the course of the grueling days and months of her rehab. There is no doubt that Curry repeatedly checked in along with her throughout that entire process.
The Sparks are currently riding a league-best five-game win streak, but are only 11-14 overall, good for tenth place. Brink’s return will provide a much needed boost to the lineup.
Meanwhile, the Aces are .500 at 13-13, only one.5 games above the Sparks. In other words, Tuesday night’s game at Crypto.com Arena is a large tilt.
Over the weekend, Brink expressed her gratitude towards her teammates and coaches, as she eyed her return this week.
“I’m super thankful that the Sparks have let me take my time and really feel great coming back,” Brink said after shootaround Saturday. “I’m excited to be on the market with my teammates.
“I’ve put in quite a lot of exertions. I feel like what people often see is me living my life normally, but people don’t see the hours and hours that I put within the gym with my trainers, amazing training staff.
“I’ve been working my (behind) off, so I definitely see the sunshine at the top of the tunnel of course.”
Rehabilitation time is over. It is time to remind the league why Brink was the second overall pick to start with.