NEW YORK — Cameron Brink can see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel.
She’s been out for 13 months after tearing the ACL in her left knee in a sport at Connecticut in June final season.
Now she’s been cleared to play once more and is raring to get again on the courtroom together with her Los Angeles Sparks teammates.
“I really feel nice. I’m tremendous grateful that the Sparks have let me take my time and actually really feel nice coming again,” Brink mentioned to some reporters after shootaround Saturday. “I’m excited to be on the market with my teammates.”
Brink has been working towards enjoying in a sport. After the Sparks completed their pregame shootaround, Brink went to the Barclays Middle apply courtroom and obtained in one other 20-minute exercise.
“I’ve put in quite a lot of laborious work. I really feel like what folks often see is me dwelling my life usually, however folks don’t see the hours and hours that I put within the fitness center with my trainers, superb coaching employees,” she mentioned. “I’ve been working my (behind) off, so I undoubtedly see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel for positive.”
Coach Lynne Roberts mentioned that Brink will not play in opposition to the Liberty on Saturday evening, however expects the six-foot-four ahead again quickly. Three of their subsequent 4 video games are at house after Saturday.
“It’s laborious to come back in midseason, and then you definately add the psychological facet that each athlete struggles with being out that lengthy,” Roberts mentioned.
Brink’s been across the crew as a lot as she may over the previous 12 months and in addition discovered methods to maintain herself busy through the lengthy rehab course of, beginning a podcast and graduating from Stanford.
“It’s actually robust psychological, waking up each day and watching your crew from the sideline cheering everybody on. I like cheering on my teammates, however there comes some extent the place I need to be on the market too,” Brink mentioned. “So, I’m simply actually completely satisfied to be at that time and simply grateful for everybody alongside the best way.”
Brink mentioned that it has been robust through the lengthy restoration interval. She is aware of it should take time to get again to the place she was earlier than she obtained injured. Earlier than she obtained harm, Brink, the No. 2 total decide within the 2024 WNBA draft, was averaging 7.5 factors, 5.3 rebounds and a pair of.3 blocks.
“It’s somewhat nerve-wracking for positive., I’m simply actually going to attempt to be affected person with myself as a result of I’m undoubtedly not the place I used to be final 12 months,” she mentioned. “It is nonetheless a piece in progress, however yeah, simply grateful for the followers. Actually excited to have the ability to simply go on the market and do what I like.”
