'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former WNBA star Liz Cambage made some rather controversial remarks during a pre-Olympics game against Nigeria in 2021.
Footage of Cambage throwing an elbow at her opponents has now surfaced online.
In the video, Cambage was seen throwing an elbow at a Nigerian player while attempting to secure positioning for a rebound. Ahead of the play, the former WNBA star was also seen slapping another player.
The physical altercation resulted in retaliation from the Nigerians. During a timeout, one of the Nigerian players rushed over to hit Cambage. Needless to say, the situation escalated quite rapidly.
Here's the video:
There were some reports that Cambage had even used racial slurs against the Nigerians, referring to them as "monkeys". However, the Opals player denied such claims.
She recently spoke on the same in an interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Brooks. She also issued a statement on social media:
"In light of the circulating footage from the 2021 scrimmage between the Opals and D'Tigress, I want to provide clarity on my recollection of the events. Before the scrimmage, I had expressed concerns to Opals staff about the unacceptable playing conditions within the COVID 'Bubble' they were imposing.
"The circulating video portrays a highly physical game with no officiating, resulting in me being attacked and sustaining a concussion. Contrary to false claims, I did not use racial slurs or refer to anyone as a monkey, which is evident from the footage."
Although Cambage has been staunch in her stance that she did no wrong, there have been contradictory statements from the Nigerian and even Australian players.
Liz Cambage unlikely to represent Nigeria
Following the incident in 2021, Liz Cambage withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics on the grounds of mental health issues, citing her struggles with anxiety and the bubble.
While she wasn't kicked off the Australian team, she hasn't played a game for them since 2022. With recent reports of her decision to check her eligibility to join the Nigerian team, it seems likely that she won't be returning to the Opals.
However, Nigerian players and their basketball federation are seemingly against Liz Cambage's move to the D'Tigress, so the former Sparks player could remain unaffiliated for a while.
Guess the Lakers players!
