By DOUG FEINBERG
The Related Press
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 keen 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 stated to some reporters after shootaround Saturday. “I’m excited to be on the market with my teammates.”
The previous Stanford star has been working towards taking part in in a sport. After the Sparks completed their pregame shootaround, Brink went to the Barclays Middle observe courtroom and acquired in one other 20-minute exercise.
“I’ve put in quite a lot of laborious work. I really feel like what folks normally see is me dwelling my life usually, however folks don’t see the hours and hours that I put within the gymnasium with my trainers, superb coaching employees,” she stated. “I’ve been working my (behind) off, so I undoubtedly see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel for certain.”
Coach Lynne Roberts stated that Brink received’t play towards the Liberty on Saturday evening, however expects the 6-foot-4 ahead again quickly. Three of their subsequent 4 video games are at dwelling after Saturday.
“It’s laborious to come back in midseason, and then you definately add the psychological side that each athlete struggles with being out that lengthy,” Roberts stated.
Brink’s been across the workforce as a lot as she may over the previous 12 months and likewise discovered methods to maintain herself busy through the lengthy rehab course of, beginning a podcast and graduating from Stanford.
“It’s actually powerful psychological, waking up on daily basis and watching your workforce from the sideline cheering everybody on. I like cheering on my teammates, however there comes a degree the place I need to be on the market too,” Brink stated. “So, I’m simply actually comfortable to be at that time and simply grateful for everybody alongside the best way.”
Brink stated that it’s been powerful through the lengthy restoration interval. She is aware of it is going to take time to get again to the place she was earlier than she acquired injured. Earlier than she acquired harm, Brink, the No. 2 total choose within the 2024 WNBA draft, was averaging 7.5 factors, 5.3 rebounds and a couple of.3 blocks.
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking for certain., 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 stated. “It’s 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.”
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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