Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink is coming back. Over a year after an ACL tear ended her rookie season, Brink plans to return to the court on Tuesday, as the Sparks take on the Las Vegas Aces at home.

Brink told reporters on Saturday that she was medically cleared, but was ramping up a bit before playing. The center was originally questionable for Saturday’s game against the New York Liberty, and traveled with the team to New York before being eventually ruled out.

On Monday, Brink spoke to John W. Davis of the Long Beach Press-Telegram during practice. When asked if she was planning on playing on Tuesday, Brink said that she was.

“It means the world,” Brink said. “I’m just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It’s no easy thing to come back from.”

Brink was carried off the court during a loss to the Connecticut Sun on June 18, 2024. The team confirmed the next day that Brink had torn her ACL.

“You never think it will happen to you,” Brink wrote on Instagram after the injury was announced. “And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom, but I know it will only make me stronger.”

Now, Brink is launching her comeback arc, though she understands that it won’t come all at once. Brink told Davis that she tends to lean on her defense, and said that she expects that to be stronger as she returns to full strength.

“Just giving myself patience on offense, knowing that it’ll come eventually. Both will need some work, for sure,” she said.

Even as she still builds back to her peak, Brink’s defensive prowess will be a major boost for the Sparks, who currently sit in 10th place with a 11-14 record. Although L.A.’s offense has been much better this year — the Sparks currently average the third-highest points per game in the league — they have struggled on rebounds (third worst in the WNBA) and turnovers (second most).

With that said, the Sparks are on a hot streak as of late: L.A. has won five straight games, including a thrilling walkoff win over the Liberty on Saturday.