Los Angeles Sparks rookie and Team USA hopeful Cameron Brink will miss this summer’s Olympics after tearing his ACL in Tuesday’s loss to the Connecticut Sun.
Brink was carried off the court in disturbing 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 pass Sun center Brionna J with the ball before falling awkwardly, leaving her in clear agony on the ground.
Eventually, her teammates helped her up and she was able to limp, but she shook her head as she left the game to receive medical attention.
A day after the incident, Brink’s injury scans have confirmed that she suffered a torn ACL in Los Angeles’ eventual 79-70 loss to Connecticut, meaning she will now be set for a long period on the sidelines. .
LA Sparks rookie Cameron Brink tore her ACL in Tuesday’s loss to the Connecticut Sun.
Brink was carted off the court after suffering a knee injury and screaming in pain.
After undergoing surgery to repair her ACL, the Sparks forward could be out of action for up to a year as she undergoes a lengthy rehabilitation program to return to full fitness.
She is therefore expected to miss the remainder of the WNBA season and this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris after being named to Team USA’s women’s 3×3 basketball team.
Following the devastating blow, Brink took to social media to insist he will come out on the other side “stronger” after recovering from his injury setback.
“You never think it’s going to happen to you,” he wrote on Instagram. ‘And despite all the hard work, sometimes she gets it done.
‘This is hard to understand, but I know it will only make me stronger. I will not go off the rails and will continue to love this life; Basketball doesn’t define me, but it is something I love deeply and I will work every day to get back to it.
“It’s not a goodbye to basketball, it’s just a see you later.” I am always very grateful for his thoughts and prayers. #delayednotdenied’.
Brink was named to the United States Olympic roster along with Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard and Hailey Van Lith.
Brink took to social media to insist he will come out on the other side “stronger” after the injury.
The Paris Games begin in just five weeks, on July 26, meaning she will have to watch her international peers battle it out for gold in the French capital.
After being named to the list, Brink broke down in tears before expressing her pride in representing the Stars and Stripes.
“I am very grateful to have been selected and it is an honor to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics this year,” she said, according to The Associated Press.