Cameron Brink is back with the LA Sparks after a long year of absence.LAPRESSE

The comeback the WNBA has been waiting for is finally here! Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink has made her highly anticipated return to the court, stepping back into the lineup after a year-long absence due to a torn ACL injury sustained early in her rookie season.

Brink’s return came against the Las Vegas Aces, and on a 15-minute restriction, she made an immediate impact, scoring five points to go along with three rebounds, one steal, and one block. Despite Brink’s efforts, the Sparks lost the game 89-74.

Brink recently took to her own “Straight To Cam” podcast to open up about the emotions and challenges of preparing to play for the first time in over a year. “It was definitely a little nerve-wracking just like still figuring out the pace of game day,” she shared on the podcast’s YouTube page.

A new Cameron for the 2025 season

The Sparks guard admitted that a lot has changed since she was last on the court, from her daily routine to the constant presence of media. “There’s just reporters, people with cameras in your face everywhere, so it’s just like I didn’t miss that aspect of it very much.”

Despite the initial nerves, Brink revealed her powerful new mindset. “I just have a completely different mindset this year than last year. It’s weird I feel like I was nervous for so many other games last year and then this game I feel like I had a lot of confidence just being like, ‘Okay, I’m just getting my feet wet,’” she explained.

The long road to Brink’s rehabilitation

Brink had shown immense promise during her brief rookie stint last year, particularly with her exceptional defense and rebounding, before the devastating injury derailed her season. She has spent the past year meticulously rehabbing, and her return performance showed that she appears to have retained her athleticism and speed.

Now officially back in the lineup, Brink and the Sparks are looking to build on her return. The team will next take the floor on Tuesday evening at home against Caitlin Clark’sIndiana Fever at 10:00 PM ET, where Brink will look to further shake off the rust and help the Sparks continue their playoff push.