Reasons why Liz Cambage left WNBA, Sparks extend beyond player pay mentioned on Instagram post
Four-time WNBA All-Star Liz Cambage has shed some light on her sudden departure from the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2022 season.
In a post shared on Instagram, Cambage announced that she “has decided to retire from the league for the time being,” and listed a few ways she hopes to improve the WNBA in terms of player empowerment and support.
Cambage, who also apologized for leaving the Sparks abruptly, said she is “hopeful that the WNBA will do (its) part in creating safer environments and a stronger support system for (their) players.” to accomplish”.
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What’s next for Liz Cambage?
WNBA future
The Instagram post comes just weeks after Cambage and the Sparks reached a contractual divorce that effectively made her a free agent, but Cambage’s testimony suggests it could be some time before she goes to WNBA court returns.
Much can be gleaned from what Cambage wrote on Instagram, including her hopes that the WNBA will provide better support for players.
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Cambage has long criticized the league’s compensation for players, going so far as to take issue with Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who was reportedly handed a $1 million contract while a Supermax contract for a player is less than $230,000.
ahh yes the @WNBA, where a head coach can get 4x the highest paying player super max contract. lmao and y’all think I’ll spend another season upgrading my seat on a flight to get to the games out of my own pocket.
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) February 1, 2022
While Cambage later clarified that she was excited for Hammon, she told ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel that there was still a long way to go when it came to player salaries.
I love it for Becky. I love it for all women. I hope that one day everyone will make a million dollars a year. But until then, we need to find better ways to give more to us, the players.
Alongside the compensation, Cambage has been vocal about the league’s travel accommodations, alluding to the fact that she’s even paid to upgrade her own travel in the past.
Australian national team
While Australia will host the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup starting in late September, Cambage will not be a member of the roster and may not compete for the Opals again.
Cambage has previously stated that she has “zero” interest in representing Australia at the World Cup, a statement that came amid reports she had used racial slurs towards the Nigeria women’s national team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which she denied via Instagram.
Following the reported incident, Cambage withdrew from participating in the Olympics, citing mental health concerns about participating in a bubble environment.
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By stating that she will “take this time to focus on my healing and personal growth before clearing up past rumors,” Cambage’s split from the Opals may be among the past rumors she plans to clear up.
Since finishing second overall in the 2011 WNBA draft, Cambage has played in six WNBA seasons, four seasons in the China WCBA and two seasons in the Australian WNBL, winning a title in 2020.
Whether a WNBL return is on the cards for Cambage remains to be seen.