Breaking: Cameron Brink to Make Highly Anticipated WNBA Debut for Sparks vs. Aces After 13-Month ACL Recovery
Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is slated to make her long-awaited season debut on Tuesday, July 29, as the Los Angeles Sparks face off against the Las Vegas Aces. This return comes nearly 13 months after Brink suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in her left knee during a game against the Connecticut Sun in June 2024.
Brink missed the remainder of her rookie campaign and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was expected to represent Team USA in 3×3 basketball. Before the injury, she had made a strong impression—averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 15 games. Her defensive presence quickly stood out, ranking among the league’s top shot blockers.
Coach Lynne Roberts confirmed that Brink had been medically cleared and would likely return under a minutes restriction, a cautious step to ease her back into game action. Roberts emphasized that, above all else, she wants Brink to enjoy the moment and play with gratitude, without overthinking mistakes—”look around, smell the popcorn. You made it back.”
The timing of her return aligns with a Sparks squad on a five-game winning streak, currently sitting just one game shy of the playoff picture with an 11–14 record.
With Kelsey Plum leading a revitalized backcourt and contributions from Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Azura Stevens, the Sparks are mounting a strong second-half push. Brink’s return could be the defensive anchor they need to sustain momentum.
Brink herself spoke with humility and excitement ahead of her return.
“It means the world … I’m just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It’s no easy thing to come back from,” she said.
At 6‑foot‑4 and armed with elite shot‑blocking instincts honed at Stanford—where she was the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year—Brink’s reintroduction alters the Sparks’ trajectory. If managed carefully, her presence could help propel the team back into postseason contention and restore hope for a franchise eager to end its playoff drought.
