Four-time WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage has shed some light on her abrupt departure from the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2022 season.
In a post shared to Instagram, Cambage announced that she has “decided to step away from the league for the time being,” citing a few ways in which she would like the WNBA to improve with respect to player empowerment and support.
Cambage, who also used her statement to apologize for leaving the Sparks in an abrupt manner, shared that she was “hopeful that the WNBA will do (its) part in creating safer environments and a stronger support system for (its) players.”
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What’s next for Liz Cambage?
WNBA future
The Instagram post comes just weeks after Cambage and the Sparks reached a contract divorce that effectively made her a free agent, but Cambage’s statement indicates that it may be some time before she returns to a WNBA court.
There is plenty to be taken from what Cambage penned on Instagram, including her hopes for the WNBA to provide better support for players.
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Cambage has long been critical of the league’s compensation of players, even going as far as to take issue with Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon reportedly receiving a contract worth $1 million, while a supermax contract for a player is less than $230,000.
ahhh yes the @WNBA, where a head coach can get paid 4X the highest paid players super max contract. lmao and y’all think imma spend another season upgrading my seat on a flight to get to games out of my own pocket.
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) February 1, 2022
While Cambage later clarified that she was happy for Hammon, she emphasized to ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel that there is plenty of work that needed to be done on player salaries.
I love it for Becky. I love it for all women. I hope everyone makes a million dollars a year one day. But until then, we’ve got to work out better ways to give us, the players, more.
In addition to compensation, Cambage has been vocal about the league’s travel accommodations, alluding to the fact that she has even paid to upgrade her own travel in the past.
Australian National Team
While Australia will host the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup beginning in late September, Cambage will not be a member of the roster, and may not suit up for the Opals again.
Cambage has already stated that she has “zero” interest in representing Australia at the World Cup, a statement that came amid reports of her using racial slurs towards the Nigerian Women’s National Team prior to the Tokyo Olympics, reports that she has denied via Instagram.
Following the reported incident, Cambage withdrew from participating in the Olympic Games, citing mental health concerns regarding the participation in a bubble environment.
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In saying that she will “be taking this time to focus on my healing and personal growth before providing clarification on past rumors,” Cambage’s split from the Opals could be among past rumors she plans to provide clarification on.
Since being drafted second overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Cambage has played in six WNBA seasons, four seasons in China’s WCBA and two seasons in Australia’s WNBL, capturing a title in 2020.
Whether or not a WNBL return for Cambage is in the cards remains to be seen.
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