Los Angeles Sparks rookie Cameron Brink has torn ACL

Los Angeles Sparks rookie center Cameron Brink has a torn ACL in her left knee. 

The Sparks announced the injury Wednesday. Brink injured her knee Tuesday night against the Connecticut Sun, and she underwent further evaluation Wednesday. 

Brink released a statement on Instagram shortly after her injury was announced.

“You never think it will happen to you,” Brink wrote. “And despite all the hard work sometimes it does. This is hard to fathom, but I know it will only make me stronger. 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 every day to get back to it. 

"It’s not goodbye basketball it’s just see you later. I’m always so thankful for your thoughts and prayers.”

Brink suffered the injury in the first quarter while driving to the basket. Her knee buckled, and she fell to the floor in pain. She required help from her teammates to her feet and was eventually carried off the floor by athletic trainers. 

The news is a tough blow for Brink, the Sparks, the WNBA and Team USA. Brink is one of the WNBA's brightest young stars after joining the Sparks as the No. 2 overall pick in the draft out of Stanford. She's a featured member of a rookie class including Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese that has helped spark a boom in league popularity. 

In 15 games, Brink has averaged 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. A month into her career, she's already one of the league's most popular players on the court and on social media. 

Brink was recently selected as a member of Team USA's 3x3 basketball team for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Team USA will now have to select her replacement ahead of the Games that start July 26. 

It's unclear when she'll return to the court, but her rookie WNBA season is done.