"We were gonna do some special things" — Rickea Jackson rues missing Cameron Brink in rookie season due to knee injury 

Cameron Brink was having one of the best rookie years before her unfortunate ACL injury on June 18 against the Connecticut Sun. Her promising year was cut short, and her teammate Rickea Jackson couldn't help but feel they were on the cusp of something special together. She gave an insight into what it was like to play alongside Brink this season, as per Detroit Free Press' Omari Sankofa II.

Brink was originally the second overall pick in this year's draft by the LA Sparks. In the 15 games she played this season, she put up 7.5 points (39.8 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from beyond the arc), 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. She showcased tremendous upside with her defensive tenacity and rebounding prowess.

"Cam's my girl and I wish she was out there playing with me, because we were going to do some special things for sure," Jackson said. "... I hate that it happened, but just us continuing our friendship has meant a lot to me. ... She's always encouraging me and giving me words of wisdom and things like that. To have her as a friend just means a lot ..."

Jackson, on the other hand, was the fourth pick in the draft and has also shown incredible promise in a stacked rookie class. She has averaged 11.5 points (45.4 percent shooting, including 32.3 percent from 3-point range) and 3.8 rebounds per game.

The two rookies were envisioned to be important pieces in building the team's future moving forward. It wasn't just their game that complemented well on the court but their personalities matched well. They were both competitive players in the league who continued to support each other's growth.

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Cameron Brink gave an update following her ACL surgery

One of the biggest setbacks to a professional athlete's career is an untimely injury that hampers one's progress. Following her ACL surgery, WNBA rookie Brink shared a brief update on her situation, as per Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's Ananya Panchal.

"I've been sleeping," Brink said. "I've just been chilling. "I woke up and I'm so chill. I'm in another dimension just chilling. You could sit me here all day and I'm just relaxing. I'm loopy."

Brink was also originally part of the USA Basketball Women's 3x3 Olympic Team alongside former LSU guard Hailey Van Lith. Her presence was sorely missed in the competition as Team USA struggled to secure rebounds, especially offensive boards, against international teams.

Aside from that, they were also smaller against their competition, which left their interior defense open for mismatches. The team was able to secure a bronze medal, despite all of their struggles and without Brink on the court.

ACL recoveries are never easy to undergo through but the young Sparks forward looked to be making great progress on her end.