Why Is Liz Cambage Not In The WNBA? Exploring The Reasons
Many basketball fans, it's true, often find themselves asking: Why is Liz Cambage not in the WNBA? It’s a question that, you know, comes up quite a bit when thinking about recent seasons. Her absence from the league, after all, has been a really noticeable change for many who follow women’s professional basketball. People are quite curious about what led to her stepping away from the North American league.
For a player of her stature and skill, her departure, it seems, left a rather significant gap. She was, in some respects, a truly dominant force on the court, known for her scoring and rebounding abilities. So, when she wasn't playing anymore, people naturally wanted to know the full story, or at least the publicly available details.
This article aims to explore the various reasons and circumstances that have contributed to Liz Cambage's current absence from the WNBA. We'll look at her career path, some of the challenges she faced, and the decisions that ultimately led to her not being on a WNBA roster today. It's about piecing together the publicly known information, really, to get a clearer picture.
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Table of Contents
- Liz Cambage: A Brief Biography
- Her Early Career and Rise to Prominence
- Challenges and Controversies Along the Way
- The Los Angeles Sparks and Her Final WNBA Exit
- Where is Liz Cambage Now?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Liz Cambage: A Brief Biography
Liz Cambage, a towering figure in women's basketball, was born in London, England, though she spent most of her formative years growing up in Australia. She quickly became a standout player, drawing attention for her unique combination of size, skill, and athleticism. This made her, you know, a very compelling prospect for professional leagues around the globe.
Her journey to professional basketball was, in a way, quite rapid. She played in the Australian Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) before making her way to the WNBA. People often remember her for her imposing presence in the paint, which was, quite frankly, a game-changer for many teams.
Here are some personal details and bio data for Liz Cambage:
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| Full Name | Elizabeth Folau Cambage |
| Born | August 18, 1991 |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Position | Center |
| WNBA Draft | 2011, 2nd overall pick by Tulsa Shock |
Her Early Career and Rise to Prominence
Liz Cambage entered the WNBA as the second overall pick in the 2011 draft, joining the Tulsa Shock. She made an immediate impact, showing flashes of the dominant player she would become. Her rookie season, you know, really put her on the map as someone to watch closely in the league.
However, her initial stint with the Shock was, in some respects, brief. She opted not to return to the team for the 2012 season, citing a desire to focus on preparing for the London Olympics with the Australian national team, the Opals. This decision, it seemed, marked the beginning of a pattern where her WNBA commitments would sometimes be influenced by other factors.
After a few years away from the WNBA, playing overseas, Cambage made a big return. She joined the Dallas Wings, which was the relocated Tulsa Shock franchise, in 2018. That season, she put together one of the most statistically impressive individual seasons in WNBA history. She even, pretty much, set a new league record for points in a single game, scoring 53 points. This performance, you know, really solidified her status as an elite player.
Her time with the Las Vegas Aces followed, where she continued to be a central figure. She helped the Aces become a formidable team, reaching the WNBA Finals in 2020. Her presence, quite frankly, made the Aces a serious contender, and fans really enjoyed watching her play during that period.
Challenges and Controversies Along the Way
The path for Liz Cambage in professional basketball, particularly in the WNBA, has been marked by various challenges and, you know, some public controversies. These situations, it's fair to say, often played a part in shaping her career trajectory and, ultimately, her decision-making process.
One notable instance occurred before the 2020 WNBA season, which was played in a "bubble" environment due to global health concerns. Cambage, citing health reasons and concerns about the bubble format, chose to opt out of playing that season. This decision, in a way, highlighted her willingness to prioritize her personal well-being, even if it meant stepping away from the game for a period.
A more significant and widely discussed incident involved her departure from the Australian Opals team before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Reports emerged of an altercation during a pre-Olympic scrimmage against the Nigerian national team. While she initially cited mental health reasons for her withdrawal from the Opals, subsequent reports and investigations, you know, brought to light allegations of a verbal and physical incident. These allegations, which she has denied, involved claims of racial slurs directed towards the Nigerian players. This situation, quite understandably, generated a lot of discussion and, honestly, was a very tough moment for Australian basketball.
The fallout from this incident, in some respects, cast a shadow. It led to an internal investigation by Basketball Australia, which found that Cambage had engaged in conduct that was contrary to the team's values. This period, it seemed, was a really challenging one for her, both personally and professionally, and it arguably affected her standing within the international basketball community.
The Los Angeles Sparks and Her Final WNBA Exit
After her time with the Las Vegas Aces, Liz Cambage signed with the Los Angeles Sparks for the 2022 WNBA season. This move was, in a way, seen as a big signing for the Sparks, who were hoping she would help them compete for a championship. Fans, you know, were pretty excited to see her play in Los Angeles.
However, her tenure with the Sparks was, sadly, quite short-lived. In July 2022, the Sparks announced that they had agreed to a "contract divorce" with Cambage. This meant that she would be leaving the team immediately. The official statement from the Sparks was, basically, brief, and it indicated that the separation was mutual. They wished her well, and that was, more or less, the extent of the public comment at the time.
Following this departure, Cambage released her own statement, once again citing mental health reasons for her decision to step away from the WNBA. She expressed a need to prioritize her well-being and take a break from the demands of professional basketball. This statement, you know, echoed some of her previous reasons for stepping away from teams or competitions.
The specific details surrounding the "contract divorce" were not fully disclosed, but it was widely understood that there were, perhaps, some underlying issues that led to the mutual parting of ways. This event marked her last appearance in the WNBA, and since then, she has not returned to the league. It was, in a way, a rather abrupt end to her WNBA career, at least for the time being.
The reasons for her departure from the WNBA, therefore, are a combination of personal choices, particularly concerning her mental health, and, you know, the aftermath of various public incidents. Her focus shifted, it seems, to prioritizing her own peace and recovery, which led her away from the WNBA stage. It's a complex situation, really, with many layers to it.
Where is Liz Cambage Now?
As of early 2024, Liz Cambage has not returned to play in the WNBA. After her departure from the Los Angeles Sparks, she has, in fact, pursued opportunities to play basketball overseas. This includes stints in leagues outside of the United States, which is, you know, a common path for many professional players.
She signed with the Maccabi Bnot Ashdod team in the Israeli women's league in early 2023. This move, in a way, allowed her to continue her professional career in a different environment. Playing overseas often provides a different pace and, perhaps, less intense media scrutiny compared to the WNBA, which can be appealing for some players.
More recently, in late 2023, reports indicated she signed with a team in the Chinese Women's Basketball Association (WCBA). This shows, basically, that she is still actively playing professional basketball, just not in the WNBA. Her career, it seems, has taken a different direction, focusing on international leagues rather than the North American one.
So, the answer to "Why is Liz Cambage not in the WNBA?" is multi-faceted. It involves her stated reasons of prioritizing mental health, the various controversies she faced, and her personal decisions to pursue opportunities elsewhere. It’s a combination of factors, you know, that have shaped her current status in the sport. While she remains a prominent figure in women's basketball globally, her WNBA chapter, for now, seems to be closed. You can learn more about professional basketball leagues on our site, and also find details about women's sports careers here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions people often ask about Liz Cambage and her WNBA career:
When did Liz Cambage last play in the WNBA?
Liz Cambage last played in the WNBA during the 2022 season, with her final game being in July 2022 for the Los Angeles Sparks. She left the team, you know, through a contract divorce partway through that season. It was a rather sudden departure, as many fans remember.
What team did Liz Cambage play for last in the WNBA?
Her last WNBA team was the Los Angeles Sparks. She signed with them for the 2022 season, but her time there, you know, ended before the season concluded. Before the Sparks, she played for the Las Vegas Aces and, before that, the Dallas Wings (formerly Tulsa Shock).
Is Liz Cambage retired from basketball completely?
No, Liz Cambage is not retired from basketball completely. While she is not currently in the WNBA, she has continued to play professionally in overseas leagues. She has played in Israel and, you know, most recently signed with a team in China, as of late 2023. So, she's still very much active in the sport, just not in the WNBA.
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