Liz Cambage has shared a cryptic message to the Opals as long-time adversary Andrew Bogut sheds new gentle on the WNBA star’s feud with Australian basketball.
Former nationwide workforce captain Jenna O’Hea on Sunday confirmed claims that Cambage advised her Nigerian opponents to “go back to your third-world country” in a warm-up sport earlier than the Tokyo Olympics.
The WNBA All-Star was investigated and issued a proper reprimand – however not suspended or fined – earlier than withdrawing from the occasion citing psychological well being issues.
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She has since declared she is going to by no means once more play for the Opals.
The specifics of Cambage’s on-court actions had remained a thriller till Sunday.
Talking on the ABC’s Offsiders, retired Opals nice O’Hea confirmed host Kelli Underwood’s declare that Cambage “turned to them (Nigerian players) and said ‘go back to your third-world country’,” and that they hadn’t spoken since.
“That is all one hundred per cent correct,” O’Hea stated.
Cambage tweeted a brief response from the US in a single day with out straight addressing the state of affairs.
“The truth will always come to light, and it ain’t even dawn yet,” she wrote.
Bogut believes Cambage doesn’t want to communicate publicly on the difficulty.
“I’m sure it’s someone else’s fault as to why she said it, so no,” he advised 2GB on Monday.
The NBA champion turned Sydney Kings co-owner is adamant the total story is but to be advised.
“You just got the PG version. There was much more than that. But look, I’m happy someone’s finally came out and said it,” Bogut stated.
“It is beyond despicable what was said. I believe if it was anyone else we’d hear much more about it.
“There’s much more in there that you can’t say on radio. People can figure that out. There were some other words used that I would never repeat, that I’d never even say, to be honest with you.”
Bogut’s feedback towards Cambage prolong an extended checklist of public spats between the Australian basketball stars.
Cambage’s renewed off-court drama comes amid the beginning of her WNBA season with the Los Angeles Sparks.
She scored 22 factors in a 10-point win over the Indiana Fever in the hours after her tweet.
“I’m living my best life,” Cambage advised the ABC earlier than the season.
“I’m supported, I’m protected on a level that the Opals or the Australian team never gave to me.
“My heart lies with those who want to protect me and those who want me to be the best I can be, and I never felt that at the Opals at all. So yeah, I’m good.”
Gaze fumes over ‘disgusting’ Cambage antics
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has labelled Cambage’s resolution to criticise the assist she acquired from Australian basketball “disgusting”.
“That (claim she wasn’t supported) is offensive. That is offensive to people going out of their way to try and put in place a system where she can actually perform at her best,” Gaze told SEN Radio.
“And it takes two. You don’t get paid for representing your country – or very little. That’s not your sole source of income.
“It’s about honour. It’s about privilege. It’s about a sense of responsibility. It’s about looking at your life and seeing how other people have provided you a privileged opportunity to perform to the highest level and when you don’t respect that – and in fact, you go the other way and say these people have actually harmed me?
“That is disgusting behaviour by her. And it’s offensive to me. It’s offensive to anyone that’s represented our country that that’s her position.”
Gaze stated he personally intervened to assist Cambage throughout her falling out with the Opals, saying the basketball star had little regard for her teammates.
“A lot is documented. And to say she wasn’t supported is unfair. It is grossly unfair,” Gaze stated.
“And you know, I have great sympathy and compassion for where she was at that point in time, and there may have been some confusion about where I need to be, her schedule, her timetable, all those things.
“But the bottom line is she made some decisions that didn’t support her teammates. Yet despite that, her teammates supported her during that time.
“The problem is, in her mind, she didn’t think she was letting anyone down.”
