Cameron Brink’s season-ending injury after just 15 games in her rookie year was a hard pill to swallow. However, given the injury’s average recovery timeline from 6 to 8 months, her return to the court for Unrivaled was an exciting await. But going by the recent updates, the new league will proceed without one of its star players, likely missing out on the viewership she could have carried.

Hopes were up last month when Unrivaled announced that Brink was joining Lunar Owls. However, her ACL recovery timeline hasn’t exactly been on her side, the forward suggested during her conversation with ESPN on Tuesday. “I’m not able to do a ton,” Brink said.

As of now, the Sparks star will be continuing with her recovery. But she has been able to move around and make a couple of shots as her team’s story showcased on Sunday. “Cam Brink getting some shots up at Lunar Owls practice yesterday 👀” the caption read, as the 22-year-old worked on her 3-point stroke. But that seems to have been the extent of it.

Reports state she hasn’t been a part of any of the first few practice drills with her team. However, she is appreciative of the support she has had and admits to feeling better physically. “My teammates are super accepting of me and cheering me on from the sidelines. I haven’t been able to do a ton, but [am doing] more and more every day.”

Cameron Brink has signed a multi-year contract with the 3×3 league, meaning she will be returning for the 2026 season, if things don’t go wrong. But for a new league, looking to make a mark in the inaugural season, the star forward’s million following (1.3 million on Instagram) could have been a good start, and will still be if Brink’s absence doesn’t threaten.

Unrivaled has expressed its wish to be a part of a change in women’s sports the way the WNBA has witnessed the previous season. Their efforts in recruiting Caitlin Clark were major proof of that. “It’s just so crazy because the growth that Caitlin has brought to the game. The sheer amount of money that she’s making these teams, people are having to move their venues for when she comes to play… so uh definitely we want to be a part of that change,” Napheesa Collier, league’s co-founder had expressed back in November.

Even her husband and league’s president, Alex Bazzell has stated their admiration of CC’s impact and their eagerness in bringing some of it to the 3×3 league. “Anyone who is in our shoes would 100% want Caitlin. It’s clear the kind of numbers she brings, it’s an outlier,” he says. So in a way, it is a blow for the team if Brink’s fans decide to tune out without her participation. But star power is no less for the league making its debut.

While Cameron Brink misses out, Unrivaled sees active involvement of its star players

The Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart co-founded league is set to bring about a shift in women’s sports, viewership secondary. Creating a a sustainable, player-owned ecosystem that prioritizes development, opportunity, and pay, has been the Minnesota Lynx star’s vision and she has more than a few players’ support in meeting it.

Just last month, New York Liberty icon, Sabrina Ionescu, signed with the league, becoming the final and 36th player. She joins the likes of Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Katie Lou Samuelson, Natasha Cloud, and Satou Sabally, on her team Phantom BC. Now the names alone have been gravitating enough to draw eyes. But the joy of participating hasn’t evaded the players, making for some entertaining content and naturally some more eyes.

“Front runners for unrivaled comedic duo,” Pheonix Mercury tagged as new teammates, Angel Reese and Kahleah Copper, got on some hilarious interactions online. Pulling the latter’s leg, the Chi-Town Barbie penned, “Grandma, you can always come… nvm we got 10 weeks to chat 🤭.” It was a reference to Cooper’s age at 30 years old. And the Mercury star had to call for a “timeout.” The interaction even had legend Candace Parker involved, as she commented, “Lol ‘grandma’ I love when Karma comes back for all them times you called me old.” 

So while the new league has faced its share of bumps, the interest around it hasn’t deterred. Unfortunate for Brink to miss out, but the positive news on her recovery is all that one wishes.