From her meteoric rise to fame to her shocking racial controversies, the story of Liz Cambage is one of both brilliance and downfall. Over the past few years, the WNBA has grown rapidly in popularity, becoming one of the most-watched sports leagues in America. Among its brightest stars was Australian basketball player Liz Cambage — a 6’8″ powerhouse known for her dominance on the court and her outspoken personality off it.

Liz’s journey began when she moved to Australia with her mother at a young age. Teased for her height — already 6 feet tall at age 10 — she turned to basketball as a way to make friends. Her talent quickly shone through, and as a teenager, she played for the Dandenong Rangers in Australia’s WNBL, where she averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. In 2011, she was drafted by the Tulsa Shock into the WNBA, earning All-Rookie honors in her first season.

Cambage’s career soared in 2018 when she joined the Dallas Wings and set a new WNBA record by scoring 53 points in a single game. Over her five WNBA seasons, she was named a four-time All-Star and averaged impressive stats: 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. Her success extended overseas, where she became one of the highest-paid female basketball players in the world, earning $400,000 per year in China.

However, her career was soon overshadowed by controversy. In 2021, Cambage criticized a lack of diversity in Australia’s Olympic promotional photos, accusing the organization of “whitewashing.” Although she initially said she would boycott the Tokyo Olympics, she later agreed to play — only to withdraw before the Games, citing mental health struggles. Cambage has been open about her battles with anxiety and depression, even revealing she had once been placed on suicide watch in 2016.

The most damaging controversy came that same year, when Cambage was accused of using racist slurs against the Nigerian national team during a pre-Olympic scrimmage. Reports claimed she called players “monkeys” and told them to “go back to your third world country.” The incident led to severe backlash from teammates and fellow Australian athletes, and Cambage vowed never to play for the national team again.

After signing with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022, Cambage described feeling more “supported and protected” than she ever did with the Australian team. Yet only months later, she and the Sparks parted ways, with Cambage announcing she would step away from the WNBA to focus on her personal well-being. Around the same time, she launched an OnlyFans account, signaling a new chapter in her life away from professional basketball.

Despite the controversies, Liz Cambage’s talent and impact on women’s basketball remain undeniable. She broke barriers, set records, and inspired countless young athletes. While her legacy is complicated by her behavior and public disputes, there is no doubt that she was a trailblazer whose influence on the sport will not be forgotten.