Cambage adds Commonwealth Games to busy year

Liz Cambage didn’t hesitate when asked to include a Commonwealth Games campaign into what shapes as the busiest year of her career.

Australian basketball star Liz Cambage. Picture: Alex Coppel

Liz Cambage did not hesitate when asked to include a Commonwealth Games campaign into what is shaping as the busiest basketball year of her career.

Cambage is the biggest name in an Opals squad that will be red-hot favourites to go through the Games tournament undefeated, just as the Australian men and women did the only previous time the sport was on the Commonwealth Games schedule in 2006.

The 202cm centre’s WNBL commitments with the Melbourne Boomers ended in January. She returns to the WNBA next month after a five-year absence, having signed for the Dallas Wings.

Then there’s the World Cup in Spain in September, where a full-strength Opals line-up will be among the title favourites.

And Cambage, 26, is keen to end the year playing in one of the big European club leagues.

“It’s a very full-on year, especially for someone who has had a bit of a break from basketball, but it’s very exciting,” Cambage said at the announcement of the Australian squads for the Gold Coast Games. “I’ve never played a WNBA season in a major international competition year. In the past we’ve always been swayed to stay in Australia and train with the team.

“But having Sandy (Brondello) as our head coach, who’s also a head coach in the WNBA, she pushes us to be a part of the WNBA.”

It’s a similar story for the Boomers, with Sydney Kings forward Brad Newley getting the rare chance to win a second Commonwealth gold medal.

“In the gold-medal game in ’06 we were actually down at halftime and the coach at the time, Brian Goorjian, his head was red and veins were popping out,” recalled Newley.

“We got up in the end but there’s definitely some pressure in being the favourites.”

Opals: Stephanie Blicavs, Liz Cambage, Katie Ebzery, Cayla George, Kelsey Griffin, Alice Kunek, Tessa Lavey, Eziyoda Magbegor, Jenna O’Hea, Nicole Seekamp, Belinda Snell, Stephanie Talbot.

Boomers: Angus Brandt, Jason Cadee, Mitchell Creek, Cameron Gliddon, Chris Goulding, Matthew Hodgson, Nicholas Kay, Daniel Kickert, Damian Mart in, Brad Newley, Nathan Sobey, Jesse Wagstaff.

AAP