Cameron Brink suffered a torn ACL in Connecticut Sun defeat, LA Sparks announce… after rookie was carried off the court screaming in pain

Los Angeles Sparks rookie and Team USA hopeful Cameron Brink is set to miss this summer’s Olympic Games after tearing her ACL in Tuesday’s defeat to the Connecticut Sun.  Brink was carried off the court in worrying scenes at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena after going down with a knee injury and screaming in pain.  The 22-year-old was trying to drive past Sun center Brionna J with the ball before she fell awkwardly, leaving her in clear agony on the floor.

She was eventually helped to her feet by teammates and was able to hobble, but shook her head as she exited the game to receive medical attention.  One day on from the incident, scans on Brink’s injury have confirmed she suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in LA’s eventual 79-70 loss to Connecticut, meaning she is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

MEDICAL UPDATE: Cameron Brink suffered a left torn ACL in Tuesday’s game vs. Connecticut Sun.

Additional details will be provided at a later date.

— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) June 19, 2024

After undergoing surgery to repair her ACL, the Sparks small forward could be out of action for up to a year as she undergoes a long rehabilitation program to get her back to full fitness.    She is therefore expected to miss both the rest of the WNBA season and this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris after being named in Team USA’s 3×3 women’s basketball team.

Following the devastating blow, Brink took to social media to insist she will come out the other side ‘stronger’ after recovering from her injury setback.  ‘You never think it will happen to you,’ she wrote on Instagram. ‘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. #delayednotdenied’.  Brink was named to the USA’s Olympic roster alongside Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard and Hailey Van Lith.

The Paris Games are set to start in just five weeks on July 26, meaning she will have to watch on as her international teammates battle it out for gold in the French capital.  After being named on the roster, Brink burst into tears before expressing her pride at representing the Stars and Stripes.  ‘I’m so grateful to be selected and it’s an honor to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics this year,’ she said, per The Associated Press.