This has been a really weird week with regards to Liz Cambage. The four-time WNBA all-star is enjoying ball in Israel after gorgeous the basketball world by asking for her launch from the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022 — however returned to headlines this week after footage emerged of the notorious scrimmage between Australia and Nigeria forward of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The main points of that scrimmage have all the time been shrouded in thriller and rumour. We all know that there was a follow recreation between the 2, and due to the Covid bubble there weren’t officers — with workforce coaches serving as refs. Previous to the leaked video there have been experiences that Cambage turned bodily with a number of Nigerian gamers, earlier than being punched, after allegedly calling them “monkeys,” including “return to your third world nation.” Claims which Cambage has vehemently denied.
Leaked video didn’t seize what was stated, however did present the physicality which finally led to the scrimmage being cancelled.
Full video of the eight minute game can be found here, which embrace the above incidents — however the edited TikTok exhibits the important thing moments being mentioned. It appears from the video that one thing was stated that sparked the punch that finally cancelled the follow, although microphones didn’t choose it up.
When requested instantly about what was stated, former Australia captain Jenna O’Hea confirmed in an interview that Cambage made the racist remarks, and that she hadn’t spoken to Cambage for the reason that scrimmage because of this.
This complete state of affairs was particularly gorgeous contemplating that one among Cambage’s teammates Ezi Magbegor was of Nigerian descent, shifting along with her household to Australia on the age of six. Maybe much more astonishing is that CAMBAGE’S FATHER IS FROM NIGERIA.
Cambage infamously give up the Australian nationwide workforce two weeks earlier than the Olympics citing mental-health points. She has not performed for Australia since, and lately expressed curiosity in enjoying for Nigeria, moderately than play for Australia once more.
So, in the event you’re following alongside up up to now right here’s the place we’re at:
- Australia performs Nigeria in a 2021 scrimmage, wherein Cambage is punched for alleged racial slurs.
- Cambage leaves the Australian nationwide workforce.
- Cambage denies the slurs, however Australia’s captain confirms them.
- Cambage expresses curiosity in enjoying for Nigeria, and explores what must be finished to play for her father’s nation.
- Video emerges of the Australia vs. Nigeria scrimmage.
- Cambage posts this:
That is such a bizarre mess. Not one of the gamers on the Nigerian workforce on the time have spoken in regards to the incident, with solely the account from O’Hea (confirming the slurs occurred) and Cambage (denying the slurs occurred) being on the report. Even when we push the racism claims to the aspect, it’s profoundly weird that two years after stepping into a number of bodily altercations with the Nigerian workforce Cambage would now flip round and need to be a part of them.
