Sparks rookie, No. 2 overall pick Cameron Brink tears ACL in 1st quarter against Sun
Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink had to be helped off the court after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter of a game at Connecticut on Tuesday night. The Los Angeles Sparks confirmed on Wednesday that Brink has a torn ACL in her left knee. The team did not provide a timetable for her recovery.
Brink played under four minutes and committed one foul before getting hurt.
Once over to the sidelines, Brink hobbled toward the locker room, but was forced to stop as a result of the pain. A pair of Sparks personnel lifted Brink off her feet and carried her to the locker room.
The 22-year-old Brink, who was the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft behind Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever, came into the game averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in her first season in Los Angeles (4-10).
"Except for the 2019 season, I’ve lost a starter to injury every single year I've been a head coach in this league,' Los Angeles Sparks coach Curt Miller said. "You just have to have the mentality of next person up and rally around it."
"We’re praying and hoping for the best for Cam," Miller said.
Brink is currently slated to play a key role on the USA Basketball 3x3 women's team headed to France to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside star college basketball guard Hailey Van Lith of TCU. However, this diagnosis casts uncertainty on whether she will be able to participate in the Paris Games this summer.
Brink posted on Instagram Wednesday afternoon about the injury: "You never think it will happen to you. And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom but I know it will only make me stronger. I will not be derailed and I will continue to love this life — I’m not defined by basketball, but it is something that I love deeply and I will work everyday to get back to it," Brink said. "It’s not goodbye basketball it’s just a see you later. I’m always so thankful for your thoughts and prayers."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
