Opals star Liz Cambage is out of the Tokyo Olympics

Australian women’s basketball star Liz Cambage has pulled out of the Olympic team in a shock move after a series of incidents in Las Vegas.

Basketball star Liz Cambage is out of the Tokyo Olympics after leaving the Australian team camp in Las Vegas as she faces multiple allegations.

Cambage declared she was battling with her mental health and was a “long way from where I want to be” after a series of incidents that prompted her to walk out on the team.

She said it “breaks my heart” to withdraw, a decision that will be a hammer blow to the Opals’ chance of a first ever Olympic gold medal.

“Every athlete competing at the Olympic Games should be at their mental and physical peak and at the moment I’m a long way from where I need to be and want to be,” she wrote.

“Anyone that knows me knows one of my biggest dreams is winning an Olympic gold medal with the Opals. Every athlete competing in the Olympic Games should be at their mental and physical peak, and at the moment I’m a long way from where I want and need to be.

“It’s no secret that in the past I’ve struggled with my mental health and recently I’ve been really worried about heading into a ‘bubble’ Olympics. No family. No friends. No fans. No support system outside of my team. It’s honestly terrifying for me. The past month I have been having panic attacks, not sleeping and not eating.

“Relying on daily medication to control my anxiety is not the place I want to be right now. Especially walking into competition on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

“I know myself, and I know I can’t be the Liz everyone deserves to see compete for the Opals. Not right now at least. I need to take care of myself mentally and physically.

“It breaks my heart to announce I’m withdrawing from the Olympics, but I think it’s best for the Opals and myself. I wish them nothing but the best of luck in Tokyo and I hope they go forth and win a gold medal. Love and light.”

The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed Cambage wouldn’t attend the games.

Chef de mission Ian Chesterman said he understood her decision.

“Liz has made a great contribution to the Australian Olympic Team over two Olympic Games campaigns. We respect her decision and wish her the best in returning to full health,” he said.

“Our focus now moves to working with the Opals so they can achieve the goals they have set for themselves in Tokyo. We know they are totally committed to achieving success in Tokyo and they will still bring an incredibly strong team to this campaign.”

Cambage has wished the team well while she focuses on her health.

The AOC will explore the potential for a late replacement Cambage in the Opals team.

pic.twitter.com/QheDPQ5tBZ

— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) July 16, 2021

It’s understood Cambage was involved in a physical altercation during a private scrimmage against Nigeria, which resulted in heated verbal abuse.

The four-time WNBA All-Star has reportedly also broken team protocols to go out in Las Vegas, where she plays with the Aces in the WNBA, while it’s understood there is another incident being investigated by team officials.

Cambage’s behaviour has upset Australian teammates and officials.

Liz Cambage watches the Boomers in Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Opals legend and three-time Olympian Michele Timms has expressed her disappointment after hearing the alleged Cambage news, which threatens to end the star’s Olympic campaign.

“Enough is enough,” Timms said via her Facebook page.

“Not what you want to read a few days before the Olympics.

“Be very interesting to see if Cambage suits up vs USA tomorrow (Saturday) morning.”

The veteran centre didn’t play in Thursday’s WNBA All-Star clash after receiving a bump to her hip during Opals practice.

We are sick to death with our “stars” putting themselves above their own country. Andrew Bogut, Ben Simmons and now Liz Cambage to name a few. So yes our citizens are done supporting athletes that don’t support us.

— jimbo (@_jjimbo) July 16, 2021

It’s a massive blow to the Opals given she is the team’s best and most influential player.

The Opals’ original squad of 12 doesn’t have any travelling reserves and has now been reduced to 11.

Cambage has never been far from controversy, having threatened not to go to Tokyo after declaring an AOC advertising campaign had “whitewashed” athletes of colour.

She caused a storm online when she shared two images — one of a Jockey ad as it was unveiled as the official underwear supplier for the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams and one shot from the uniform unveiling.

She slammed the photos for the lack of diversity with Cambage writing on the Jockey ad: “If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T EVEN REPRESENT ME.”

Cambage has also long been a campaigner for equality and has a strong presence in the Black Lives Matter campaign.

She has also engaged in heated online spats with Australian basketball great Andrew Bogut.

She was ejected from a Commonwealth Games gold medal game in 2018 and from a pre-Olympic qualifier against Japan in 2019 for arguing with referees about how she was being defended.