Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink suffered a torn ACL in her left knee, the team announced Wednesday.
Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, sustained the injury during the team’s 79-70 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday. Brink will likely miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
Brink released a statement on Instagram after the news.
“You never think it will happen to you,” Brink wrote. “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. It’s not goodbye basketball it’s just a see you later. I’m always so thankful for your thoughts and prayers.”
Brink slipped while driving to the basket and tweaked her left knee just four minutes into the game. Brink crumbled to the court in pain while clutching her knee before she was helped off the court by teammates.
Brink averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.3 blocks in 22 minutes per game this season. Her blocks average was tied for second in the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces A’ja Wilson.
The injury will likely prevent her from participating in the 3x3 competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which begin in late July. Brink was one of four players - the Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard, TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and Cierra Burdick, who currently plays professionally in Spain who formerly played in the WNBA - selected to the squad.
Brink is expected to make a full recovery in time for the beginning of the 2025 season.