Cameron Brink fires back at fan over ‘red carpet' criticism after severe injury
Cameron Brink's ACL rehab took an unexpected detour Tuesday when she fired back at a critic who questioned how seriously she's taking her recovery.
In a message shared on her Instagram Stories, the Sparks forward — roughly 12 months removed from a torn ACL — responded to a Los Angeles fan who opined, 'Something tells me that if she put as much work into rehab as she puts into walking down red carpets and schmoozing, she'd be back by now.'
'Usually I don't give energy to this type of stuff but I have time today — I'm working INCREDIBLY hard every day,' began Brink, who publicized the detractor's full post.
5 Sparks star Cameron Brink hit back at a critic who questioned how seriously she is taking her ACL recovery.
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5 Brink posted the message from the detractor on her Instagram Story.
Cameron Brink/Instagram
'I would give anything to be out on the court right now. Basketball is my passion and everything to me … to say this you aren't a real fan.'
The second overall pick out of Stanford in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Brink averaged 7.5 points per game, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists before she went down on a non-contact play against the Connecticut Sun last June.
'You never think it will happen to you. And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom but I know it will only make me stronger,' Brink, 23, wrote on Instagram in the aftermath.
5 Cameron Brink was helped off the court during a game against the Sun in June 2024.
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'I will not be derailed and I will continue to love this life- I'm not defined by basketball, but it is something that I love deeply and I will work everyday to get back to it. It's not goodbye basketball it's just a see you later. I'm always so thankful for your thoughts and prayers.'
Brink, whose Sparks stand at 3-7, added Tuesday she 'cannot wait' to be back on the court.
5 Cameron Brink has been supporting the Sparks from the sideline.
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5 She wrote in her June 2025 post that she's eager to get back to the court.
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'Thank you to those who understand ACLs can take a year & giving me grace,' she penned. 'I cannot wait until I get to play again.'
Brink, set to join the three-on-three Unrivaled league in 2026 after she recovers, provided an update on her progress in January.
'I haven't been able to do a ton, but it's more and more every day,' she said at the time.
The timeline for ACL recovery can vary, with the range being anywhere from six to 12 months.
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