Liz Cambage's deafening silence in face of explosive allegations

·Contributor

9 May 2022 at 10:38 pm·3-min read

Liz Cambage, pictured here with Opals teammates in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics. — Liz Cambage withdrew from the Opals squad in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics. Image: Instagram

OPINION

Self-exiled Australian basketballer Liz Cambage's only response to recent allegations she made disparaging remarks to Nigerian players at a pre-Olympics warm-up game has been a cryptic message on social media.

"The truth will always come to light, and it ain’t even dawn yet," Cambage tweeted, seemingly in reply to claims – led by former teammate and Opals skipper Jenna O'Hea - she told Nigerian players to "go back to your third world country" during an explosive practice match last July.

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I've got news for you, Liz. It's way past dawn here in Australia and heading into afternoon as far as your reputation is concerned.

Andrew Gaze and Andrew Bogut have both backed up O'Hea's version of events and suggested there were other comments "even more offensive" than what has been made public.

Liz, are you suggesting all three have made things up to bring you down?

O'Hea went as far as to say the "third world" comments were "100% correct" when asked to confirm.

I don’t know about you, Liz, but if someone said something about me I felt was false, I'd be getting on the front foot and putting the record straight immediately.

You have previously used terms like "fake news" and "lies" to discredit reports of your Tokyo vanishing act, so please elaborate.

It’s been 10 months since your Olympics walkout and there's been no real form of explanation, only more digs at your alleged treatment by Basketball Australia.

Liz Cambage, pictured here in action for the Opals in the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2020. — Liz Cambage in action for the Opals in the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2020. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT/AFP via Getty Images) (GUILLAUME SOUVANT via Getty Images)

Liz Cambage comments spark outrage

You told the ABC: "I’m supported (at WNBA club LA Sparks), I'm protected on a level that the Opals or the Australian team never gave to me.

"My heart lies with those who want to protect me and those who want me to be the best I can be, and I never felt that at the Opals at all. So yeah, I’m good."

Cambage is a rare talent and, as hinted at by Gaze, afforded support and latitude above and beyond what a down-roster player could expect.

BA officially reprimanded the 30-year-old over the Nigerian incident, but that's where the 'punishment' began and ended.

No fine, no suspension, no real explanation.

Those in charge also have a duty to come clean and tell the Australian sporting public what went down.

What have they to lose?

Cambage won’t play for Australia again – that much is indisputable in this whole sorry affair.

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