“It’s not goodbye, basketball, it’s just see you later.” There’s only one question on every WNBA fan’s mind right now: When is Cameron Brink coming back? The six-foot-four rookie on the Los Angeles Sparks went through a harrowing injury experience last year, tearing her ACL against the Connecticut Sun. It always hurts to see a player get carried off the court, but it hurts even more when it’s the second-overall pick. There were a lot of expectations on the Stanford alumni’s head, and they didn’t go away just because she got injured.

But the thing is, there’s no rushing the process back. Brink had an operation on her ACL at the end of June 2024, and everyone was expecting at least a year’s worth of recovery. However, we’ve been seeing a lot of the Sparks’ center during her recovery. She started a podcast with Sydel Curry-Lee, and did a lot of promotional work during her time of injury. Her public appearances, coupled with the fact that it’s about to be a year since her surgery, has got people confused as to when she’ll return to the court.

However, one social media user took it a step too far recently. “She should’ve been back on the court now, and something tells me that if she put as much work into rehab as she puts into walking down red carpets and schmoozing, she’d be back by now.” The user said, calling out Cameron Brink’s slow recovery. This LA Sparks fan in particular was not the only person to bring up these concerns, but the six-foot-four sophomore decided to put these questions to rest once and for all!

In a scathing story reply, Cameron Brink dissected the troll’s message. “I’m working INCREDIBLY hard every day. I would give anything to be out on the court right now. Basketball is my passion and everything to me.” She stated, calling out the commenter for being a fake fan. “Thank you to those who understand ACLs can take a year & giving me grace. I cannot wait until I get to play again.” And isn’t that a powerful response!

The ACL epidemic in women’s basketball has only gotten more and more prominent as time has gone on. Female athletes are two to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than men, due to factors like knee alignment, muscle strength, and hormonal differences, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

We saw it with Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and now? Big names like JuJu Watkins and Courtney Vandersloot have been sidelined due to this vicious injury. But how long will it take for Cameron Brink to recover fully? After all, it has been almost a year by now. What’s the status of her recovery? Let’s find out!

Cameron Brink gives major update on recovery amidst rumors of potential return

Let’s keep it straight and to the point–ACL injuries take some time to recover. The thing about the ACL is that it’s responsible for the stability of the knee, and the turning/pivoting movements that are common in the sport of basketball. According to Dr. Prem Ramkumar, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports injuries and joint replacements, most ACL reconstructions require at least 9 months of recovery, but for returning to a sport like basketball? A year is quite a safe bet. 

So, how is Cameron Brink dealing with everything? Well, the LA Sparks star has certainly been productive during her time of injury. She went back and completed her degree at Stanford, got engaged to her long time boyfriend Ben Felter, and has been pretty active on social media. Her podcast, Straight to the Cam, has been getting decent traction as well. 

And as for her return to the sport, there were positive signs from the six-foot-four forward while talking to reporter Sara Jane Gamelli. According to a tweet by Gamelli, Brink is feeling ‘great’ and is taking it ‘step by step’. Furthermore, the second-overall pick had nothing but praises for the Los Angeles organization. “I’m thankful that I’m not getting any pressure from the org. The Sparks are doing a really good job of just supporting me fully through this process.” She said.

Fans can’t wait for the return of the Los Angeles forward who was averaging 7.5 points,  5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in the limited few WNBA games she played before her unfortunate injury. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the rehab process goes, and when Brink finally returns to the court. Stay tuned for all the action!