WNBA Star Liz Cambage Backtracks From Comments Following Video Leak From Nigeria-Australia Scrimmage
After a video of a scrimmage against Nigeria where she is claimed to have called players “monkeys” surfaced, former WNBA standout Liz Cambage is altering her position somewhat.
Four-time All-Star Cambage has been out of the WNBA for a year as a result of a disagreement with her LA Sparks teammates and coaches.
Around that time, information about the now-famous game that occurred before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics became public.
Footage has surfaced of the infamous Australia vs. Nigeria game where then- WNBA star Liz Cambage was seen elbowing and slapping opponents in the face. In the same incident, Cambage allegedly called opponents, ‘monkeys.’
Cambage was swung at in retaliation later in the match. pic.twitter.com/MmXI4R2WWq
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 10, 2023
Cambage was scheduled to represent her native Australia, however, she quit the squad before the competition began, citing mental health issues.
The 6-foot-9 center recently told Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report that the reported incidents never took place.
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) August 9, 2023
“I don’t really lean towards racially backed insults,” she continued. “That’s not how I go. I’m very pro-Black. I did not say these [things] to these girls. The truth looks a lot worse for other organizations involved, than using me as a scapegoat.”
✨💜✨ @LASparks ✨💜✨ pic.twitter.com/niKDzioVkI
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) February 24, 2022
She stated that she would be joining the Nigerian national team as well.
“Why does Nigeria want me to leave Australia and go and represent them?” remarked Cambage, a Nigerian by birth as her father hails from Nigeria.
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“We’re filing for me to leave the Australian national team so I can represent Nigeria,” she continued. “I’ve been in cahoots. I’ve been talking with them since all of this happened. This is what I mean. People don’t know the truth.”
However, everything changed on Tuesday night when video from the pre-Olympics game surfaced.
😍@wilsonbasktball
Click the link to cop yours today – https://t.co/t4m7pSoJ4p pic.twitter.com/i76rxj8wdZ— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) November 10, 2021
In the video, Cambage slaps one player while elbowing another.
Soon after it was published, she released a statement.
“The circulating video portrays a highly physical game with no officiating, resulting in me being attacked and sustaining a concussion,” she said. “Contrary to false claims I did not use racial slurs or refer to anyone as a monkey, which is evident from the footage.”
YEAR 5!!! Y’ALL READY FOR THIS? @LVAces ❤️ LETSSSSSGOOOOO pic.twitter.com/ZyTwPoBJl2
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) May 15, 2021
locked in with my ladies in Las Vegas 🇦🇺💚✨ pic.twitter.com/KtevACh1zy
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) July 12, 2021
Additionally, she retracted remarks about playing for the Nigerian national team.
“To set the record straight, I never stated that I had officially joined the Nigerian national team,” Cambage said. “Instead, I expressed my interest in joining the team and representing Nigeria. I had discussions with staff members about the necessary steps to become eligible, and thought I was doing them. I extend my best wishes to all players on D’Tigress.”
There is no doubt that this seems like a story that is far from over.