Cameron Brink continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered during the first half of her rookie season in the WNBA. If her pregame outfit on Friday night is any indication, she is way ahead of schedule.
The 22-year-old does not seem to need a brace!
Brink went down with a nasty-looking non-contact injury during the Los Angeles Sparks’ game against the Connecticut Sun on June 18. She could not walk under her own power at first and needed assistance to get off of the court.
Cam Brink is being carried off the floor after a hard fall💔#WNBA pic.twitter.com/U7P72OC2ZC
— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) June 18, 2024
As many medical experts expected, it was later announced that Brink suffered a torn ACL. The No. 2 overall pick in the WNBA Draft will be out for the year. Surgery was necessary to repair the ligament.
The operation took place no later June 25, when Brink posted an update on crutches in a compression sleeve.
Every injury is different. Every person’s recovery from a torn ACL is different.
It seems like the Sparks’ star center is coming along as expected or even a little bit faster.
Brink showed up to support her team in its overtime victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night. Her pregame outfit did not include a brace of any kind. It also featured boots with a heel.
For Brink to be walking in a heel without a brace at all is a great sign. However, she did put a pretty heavy brace back on her left knee after the photo op.
Brink was moving around fairly well on the sideline.
✨️ @cameronbrink22 returns to the bench against Las Vegas Aces. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/vheZBfyNWg
— ʀᴏᴏᴋɪᴇ 👻 (@CoachRookie) July 6, 2024
According to Duke Health, the timeline for a return to sport after ACL surgery is about six months. It typically takes about four-to-six weeks to gain satisfactory mobility in the knee, and six-to-12 weeks for greater gains in functional strength that can allow for things like biking with resistance and weight bearing exercises. The brace usually comes off after about a month– sometimes a little bit longer.
For Cameron Brink to be up and moving like she is is a great sign. Feeling good enough to remove the brace after less than 20 days, even for a short tunnel walk, is also very positive.
Brink will not be back this season but her recovery is coming along well!