What is going on with all the ACL injuries in women’s basketball?
First it was Paige Bueckers, then Cameron Brink, and then JuJu Watkins all with ACL injuries while playing basketball. What is going on?
Actually, injuries in women’s basketball are not unusual. In fact, women basketball players are significantly more likely to sustain ACL injuries compared to their male counterparts. Studies indicate that women are 2 to 8 times more likely to tear their ACL than men. Specifically, in basketball, this risk is elevated, with women experiencing an injury rate 2 to 7 times higher than men.
What happened with Cameron Brink in the WNBA?
In June of 2024, Los Angeles Sparks rookie forward Cameron Brink sustained a torn ACL in her left knee during a game against the Connecticut Sun. The injury took her out of the WNBA season and the USA’s Olympic games in Paris. As the number 2 pick in the WNBA draft, Brink started all 15 games for the Sparks last season, until the torn ACL took her out of the game.
How did Cameron Brink’s ACL Tear Happen?
Brink suffered a torn ACL during a game against the Connecticut Sun in June 2024. She was charging down the basketball court, preparing to take a shot and got tangled up with another player. The film replays look like a typical ACL tear, she planted her foot and went right down. This type of injury is typical in sports where starting, stopping, pivoting and jumping are common.
What does a torn ACL mean for Cameron Brink?
A torn ACL for Cameron Brink took her out of the season and out of the Olympic games. A torn ACL refers to a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament, which is one of the main ligaments in the knee. It is also the most-injured ligament in sports for athletes. The ACL connects the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilize the knee, especially during movements that involve stopping suddenly, pivoting, or changing direction — common in sports like basketball, soccer, and football. Cameron’s injury is was a non-contact injury. She slipped and the attempted sudden correction is probably what tore her ACL.
What did they do for Cameron Brink’s ACL Tear?
Cameron Brink underwent ACL reconstruction surgery to repair her torn left knee ligament. When Dr. Ramkumar performs an ACL reconstruction, he typically does them arthroscopically. During this minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Ramkumar will remove the damaged fragments of the torn ACL and replace them with a soft tissue called a graft. Two types of grafts that are used are:
- Autograft: A tendon taken from the patient’s patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, or quadriceps tendon
- Allograft: Tissue from a donor, tissue bank, or cadaver. Dr. Ramkumar rarely uses an allograft for high-level athletes or any patient under the age of 40 years due to its failure rate.
ACL reconstruction is done to restore stability to the knee, preserve the meniscus and articular cartilage, and help patients fully return to their activities and/or sport.
When will Cameron Brink play basketball again?
Cameron has been participating in a rehabilitation program, similar to what Dr. Ramkumar creates for his individual athletes who similarly undergo ACL Reconstruction. It is estimated that Cameron will return to WNBA action in June of this year (2025).
How long does it take to recover from ACL reconstruction like Cameron Brink had?
Most ACL reconstructions require 9 months of healing and rehabilitation. In Dr. Ramkumar’s practice, patients who undergo ACL reconstruction begin physical therapy about a week after surgery. They will use a knee brace and crutches between two and three weeks post-surgery, until cleared to do more. The status of the meniscus at the time of surgery dictates the nuances of the recovery process in the first 6 weeks; the larger the damage to the meniscus leads to a slightly longer recovery immediately after surgery. Recovery during the first three months for Dr. Ramkumar’s patients focus on rehabilitation, with strength training occurring after month three. Patients can usually drive by 2-3 weeks and walk like a normal person by 4-5 weeks. By the nine month mark, if the patient has made significant progress, Dr. Ramkumar will usually clear them for a full return to sport.
Learn more about Cameron Brink’s Torn ACL Journey below:
