Cameron Brink once called her braids “lucky,” and since then, she’s had many looks. From dominating headlines in fashion to redefining athlete style, Brink has transformed into a rising icon. Even after an ACL injury sidelined her, she never slowed down. She stole the spotlight as a standout in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rookie class, turning heads with every shot. She fronted a bold campaign for Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS shapewear and commanded attention on the cover of FLAUNT magazine.
Along with her modeling career, she has also been working tirelessly to earn her way back into a reinvigorated Los Angeles Sparks squad, a team that made major offseason moves, most notably acquiring dynamic guard Kelsey Plum, signaling a renewed commitment to contention. As her long-awaited return draws near, Brink is not only sharpening her game but also embracing a fresh start in style. Known for her signature platinum blonde look, she recently marked this new chapter with a striking change in appearance.
Brink has traded in her platinum blonde for a richer, more natural look. Her new hair color is a sun-kissed light golden brown with soft blonde undertones that add dimension and warmth. The shift feels intentional, highlighting her features with a glow that’s both fresh and grounded. In her caption, she hinted that this may actually be her natural shade, making the change feel like a return to her roots in more ways than one. She wrote, “Back to my natural color.” Along with a nerdy face emoji.
Cameron Brink changed her hair
(via @cameronbrink22 on IG) pic.twitter.com/b8uOxqLtG1
— Paolo Songco (@PaoloSongcoNBA) June 6, 2025
This update came just hours before Brink’s Sparks took on Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings. And coincidentally, Bueckers also changed her hairstyle before coming into the WNBA; from her iconic braids, she went to a slicked-back ponytail. The rookie had said that she needed a “break from the braids,” which she wore during her tenure with the UConn Huskies.
For Brink, this season feels like a restart, too. With her rookie year split by injury, she’s gearing up for a powerful return. Recently, she appeared on the Celebrity edition of Wheel of Fortune, where she shared an update on her rehab and progress: “I was at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut… a casino, very lucky,” Brink replied. “I tore my ACL and tore my meniscus as well. But it’s all surgically repaired now.”
According to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, Cameron Brink is expected to return to action before the All-Star break in June. While that’s certainly encouraging, it’s still a tough blow for the Sparks, who are without one of their most promising young stars for a significant stretch of the season.
Both Brink and Bueckers were absent from the live Sparks-Wings game, with the latter still sidelined due to concussion protocol. A courtside support club, if you may? After all, Brink has shown her support for Bueckers on multiple occasions, calling her a sister as part of the unofficial “ACL girlies” club. Bueckers, who missed her entire junior season in college with an ACL tear, knows exactly what it takes to bounce back. She returned to peak form at UConn, averaging 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists during her redshirt junior season – a comeback arc Brink will certainly be hoping to copy.
Can Cameron Brink remain the same player she was post-injury?
The average recovery time for an ACL tear after opting for a surgical procedure is around 12 months. It has already been more than a year since we have seen Brink don the Sparks jersey, but there is reason to be hopeful.
After Tuesday’s practice, Coach Lynne Roberts discussed Brink’s progress. “There’s no date,” Roberts said. “She’ll be cleared when she’s cleared.” While a return date has not been stated, Roberts confirmed that she has been engaging in on-court activities. “A little bit, yeah… Non-contact stuff”.
An ACL injury is one of the most delicate and daunting setbacks an athlete can face. It doesn’t just test the body, it challenges the mind, the confidence, and the spirit. For many, it has been a career-altering moment, a fork in the road that leads either to reinvention or to an unfortunate exit from the game. Cameron Brink now stands at that crossroads, and all eyes are on how she’ll rise.
Before the injury, Brink was quickly becoming one of the most promising rookies in the league. She started all 15 games she was available for, averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. But it was her defense that truly impressed, as she made 2.3 blocks and 1.7 steals a night. She was establishing herself as a force in the paint, fearless and instinctive.
As she works her way back, the physical side of recovery will be guided by top-tier professionals who will ensure she returns only when she’s fully ready. But the real battle will be internal. Confidence is everything. She must trust her body again, trust that her movements are sharp, that her instincts are sound, and that the injury is behind her. One flicker of doubt can change the pace of a game or the precision of a defensive rotation.
While her numbers might not turn out to be as good as we have seen in the past, the franchise will ease her in, giving her progressively more minutes as she assimilates to the competitive setting. She is a vital part of this Sparks rebuild, and Kelsey Plum will want her back to her best and injury-free so they can take the Sparks back to the top where they belong.
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