Liz Cambage has avoided suspension and been handed a small fine in the Chinese League Finals after two flagrant fouls
Australian basketball star Liz Cambage has been handed a small fine after being ejected for two ugly incidents – before giving the referee a spray on her way off the court. WATCH what happened.
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Liz Cambage has extraordinarily only been hit with a minimal fine for taking out two players with a “cheap shot” elbow and slap during ugly scenes in the WCBA Finals in China.
This masthead can reveal Cambage received a 5000rmb ($1,075) fine and a warning from the WCBA for two blatant attacks on rival players while playing for the Sichuan Blue Whales against Inner Mongolia in Game 2 of the WCBA Finals on Sunday.
The former Opals centre hit one rival player in the head with a stray slap before unleashing a shocking elbow to the head of another player.
Cambage’s second foul – a brutal elbow late in the fourth quarter – was particularly damaging and resulted in her ejection from the game.
The controversial centre avoided suspension to suit up in Sichuan’s Game 3 overtime loss to Mongolia on Tuesday night.
It’s a shock decision given Cambage was rubbed out for one CBA game in 2016 after unleashing a similar elbow while playing for the Shanghai Swordfish.
Liz Cambage ejected with two flagrant fouls in G2 of the WCBA Finals. That second one in particular was very bad. And then of course had to put on a show as she left. Clown behaviour. pic.twitter.com/i4ZJsKduoy
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) April 13, 2024
The former WNBA star would have faced suspension in any other league in the world for her unsavoury and unsportsmanlike actions.
Cambage’s career now appears damaged beyond repair, with WNBA, WNBL and international teams unlikely to secure her services given her recent behaviour.
It’s a tragic set of circumstances when you consider her talent and ability as one of the world’s finest female basketballers at her best.
Cambage’s Sichuan side must win Game 4 of the WCBA Finals on Thursday from 9.30pm (AEDT) to keep the series alive.
Cambage embroiled in fresh controversy after ugly ejection
Controversial Australian basketballer Liz Cambage is set to avoid suspension, despite taking out two players with a “cheap shot” elbow and slap during ugly scenes in the WCBA Finals in China.
Cambage’s tarnished reputation has copped another hit after she received two flagrant fouls, leading to her ejection while playing for the Sichuan Blue Whales against Inner Mongolia in Game 2 of the WCBA Finals.
The former Opals centre hit one rival player in the head with a stray slap before unleashing a shocking elbow to the head of another player.
Cambage’s second foul – a brutal elbow late in the fourth quarter – was particularly damaging and resulted in her ejection from the game.
The drama didn’t finish there.
Cambage motioned for the incident to be viewed on video, before a teammate escorted her off the court and not before she gave the referee an almighty spray.
Despite her poor on-court actions, Code Sports understands the 32-year-old will avoid suspension ahead of a decisive Game 3 on Tuesday from 9.30pm (AEDT).
It’s a shock decision given Cambage was rubbed out for one game in 2016 after unleashing a similar elbow while playing for the Shanghai Swordfish.
The ex-Australian representative’s behaviour sparked a barrage of online criticism, including: “She will never learn” and “Liz should be in the WWE wrestling”.
Cambage has endured a drama-dominated three years since her role in an ugly brawl while playing for the Australian Opals in a behind-closed doors pre-Olympic scrimmage against Nigeria in Las Vegas in 2021.
The incident – where she elbowed and slapped Nigerian players and was later king-hit after a verbal exchange – was her final time in Australia’s green and gold.
Cambage withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health, while she only received a formal reprimand following Basketball Australia’s independent review.
The downward spiral continued in 2022 when she departed the WNBA after a falling out with the LA Sparks.
Reports emerged of Cambage criticising teammates, expressing discontent with her role on the team and taking a jersey number from a teammate.
The continuous centre had a brief stint in Israel’s Division 1 League with Maccabi Bnot Ashdod in 2023, before joining Sichuan in China on a deal worth a reported $1 million.
The Blue Whales’ WCBA Finals series against Inner Mongolia is locked at 1-all heading into Game 3 on Tuesday night.
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Originally published as Liz Cambage has avoided suspension and been handed a small fine in the Chinese League Finals after two flagrant fouls
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