Exiled Australian basketballer Liz Cambage has hit out at explosive new allegations of racism and violence.
Cambage will never play for the Opals again after she was essentially kicked out of their Tokyo Olympics campaign, and then omitted from the squad for this year’s World Cup.
The exact reason for her Tokyo withdrawal was kept quiet by Basketball Australia, a fact which made Australian football great Craig Foster concerned and calling for transparency.
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It wasn’t until May 8 that details of the fallout came to light. Former Opals captain Jenna O’Hea told ABC’s Offsiders that Cambage said to the Nigerian national team, “go back to your third-world country”, during a pre-Olympic practice game.
An extensive News Corp report published on Sunday delved deeper into Cambage’s fallout with the Opals and Basketball Australia, as well as what witnesses allege actually happened during that scrimmage against Nigeria.
The News Corp report quotes several Nigerian and Australian players who allege Cambage labelled her opponents “monkeys”. A video was also published which shows Cambage violently throwing her elbow into an opponent’s neck and face, which allegedly caused a deep gash on the latter’s neck.
The practice game had to be cancelled following that incident, which reportedly left a number of players on both teams crying.
On Monday, Cambage took to Instagram to respond to the latest allegations.
“The incident that took place during the pre-Olympic scrimmage with the Nigerian team was handled privately, almost a year ago,” she wrote.
“I am very disappointed and hurt by the events and accusations that have unfolded in the Australian media. The recount of what took place is inaccurate and misleading.
“I did not use the racial slur towards the Nigerian team that has been circulating.
“After I unintentionally fouled a Nigerian player on court I was then physically assaulted by this player on the sideline of my bench. I was hit in the face and pushed to the ground but I walked away.
“Prior to the game I asked to sit out because I was concerned about my mental and physical health, which I have addressed publicly.
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“We did not have professional referees to manage and prioritise both teams’ safety during this highly physical scrimmage.
“This is not an excuse or justification to the events that unfolded or my actions, however, I feel that a full picture of the environment that led to this outcome must be shared.
“I have taken responsibility and accountability for my involvement in what occurred. I genuinely apologised to the Nigerian team and I once again am sorry that these events are being rehashed.
“I truly hope that I can move forward from this incident and apply actionable effort to be my best self.”
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