The Los Angeles Sparks have announced they’ve parted ways with 6-foot-8 Australian centre Liz Cambage.
The 30-year-old Cambage averaged 13.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 25 games this season after signing with Los Angeles on February 15. She must now clear waivers before becoming a free agent.
“It is with support that we share Liz Cambage’s decision to terminate her contract with the organisation,” Sparks Managing Partner Eric Holoman said. “We want what’s best for Liz and have agreed to part ways amicably. The Sparks remain excited about our core group and are focused on our run towards a 2022 playoff berth.”
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According to the Los Angeles Times, Interim head coach Fred Williams said Cambage struggled with conditioning and facing double- and triple-team match-ups.
Cambage, 30, has yet to address the news, which came the same day rumours emerged that she reportedly “quit” the team.
Girl Talk Sports TV reported, Cambage made her intentions to leave the Sparks to multiple people within the organisation. Chemistry issues amongst Los Angeles players has reportedly been a problem for months.
Cambage’s PR partner denied chemistry issues with teammates, saying it didn’t play a role in Cambage’s split from the Sparks.
Cambage was the second overall pick by the Tulsa Shock in 2011, but has played in only five WNBA seasons. She sat out 2012 to prepare for the London Olympics with the Australian team and took a four-year hiatus from the league (2014-17) because she didn’t want to play in Tulsa. The franchise moved to Dallas in 2016 and she returned to the league in 2018.
She played one season for the Wings before being traded to the Aces in 2019. She also didn’t play during the 2020 bubble season. Cambage came to Los Angeles in the offseason, saying it was where she always wanted to play.
Last month, Phoenix and Tina Charles parted ways. The veteran Charles now plays for the Seattle Storm.
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