When you stay off the court for 13 months, it’s no exaggeration when you say your return “means the world.” Having missed the Olympics, Unrivaled, countless practice sessions, and hundreds of minutes to help the struggling team, Cameron Brink knows what her ACL tear taught her. “…Very humbled by this experience. It’s no easy thing to come back from,” she says. So now that it’s time to get back, she’s excited, but also aware of the risks and setbacks.

Aware of the challenge, Cameron Brink did everything she could to prepare, including connecting with Denver Nuggets star Jamal Murray and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn to seek advice on rehabbing from a torn ACL. Over a year in, and it is all paying off.

LA Sparks officially welcome their forward

Even though Brink is officially back on the court, she’s not in the starting lineup. That makes perfect sense—after all, the last time she played a WNBA game was on June 18th, 2024, against the Connecticut Sun. That was the game where she was forced to exit after just four minutes, following what was later diagnosed as a torn ACL.

And, before that unfortunate injury—which required a long and difficult road to recovery—Brink had wrapped up her rookie year averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. But now that she’s healthy in her sophomore season, the Sparks are taking no chances with their former No. 2 overall pick. They’ve been extremely cautious, choosing not to rush her back until she was fully cleared.

And now, after 407 days on the sidelines, Brink has finally been reactivated to the roster. Technically, she’s no longer classified as a rookie, but in many ways, this return feels like a glimpse of what her first season could’ve been. After all, she’s now playing alongside teammates who’ve gained a full season’s worth of experience in the league.

So, naturally, it’s going to take time for her to get fully back into rhythm and the young forward is aware. “I’m just really going to try to be patient with myself because I’m definitely not where I was last year. Still a work in progress,” she said over the weekend. So while the return has been made, the Sparks are sticking to their plan—not letting Brink play more than they’ve mapped out. So… slow and steady is the way forward.

Is Cameron Brink on Minutes Restriction?

While many fans were expecting a headline-making return, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts has already made it clear—Brink will come off the bench. “Not to put too much pressure on Cam’s impact right now,” Roberts said, emphasizing the need for Brink to simply “be in the moment and not worry too much about missing a layup… play with gratitude.”

But, yes, Sparks got their plan ready and as per the latest update, Sparks will ease Brink into the rotation with a clear minutes restriction, especially considering how deep their frontcourt already is—with Dearica Hamby, Rickea Jackson, and rookie Sania Feagin all contributing solidly during Brink’s absence.

So, easing Brink back into the game also helps temper offensive expectations, as she’s primarily known for her defensive skills. But there’s an advantage to watching the game from the sidelines too—remember Aari McDonald? She adjusted seamlessly into the Fever’s core after studying film, which is no small feat.

Last year, Brink had plenty of work to do in terms of scoring, and taking her time now might give her the opportunity to build up to the level both fans and coaches hope to see. And she has all the support. As she told the Long Beach Press-Telegram, “It’s great to get in and get reps. My teammates are super supportive, coaching me up. My coaches are super patient. I’m feeling great, just getting the reps that I need to feel comfortable.”

So even though she didn’t start, Brink’s return marks a major emotional and physical milestone—not just for her, but for the Sparks as well. Especially since the team is currently riding a five-game win streak and sits 10th in the WNBA standings. With the roster now fully healthy for the first time all season, the timing couldn’t be better.