I do not appreciate the lies Cambage hits out as Opals move on

Liz Cambage says opting out of the Tokyo Olympics is “like a weight off her shoulders” and has hit out at “the lies” and “fake news” surrounding her departure from the Opals, saying she had been at breaking point for a month.

The 29-year-old withdrew from the Games on Friday due to mental health concerns about entering the COVID bubble in Tokyo without her support team.

Liz Cambage has withdrawn from the Olympics.Credit:Getty Images

Earlier on Friday, reports emerged alleging Cambage had been in a physical and verbal altercation with players from Nigeria during a closed-door scrimmage against the Opals earlier this week which raised doubts about Cambage’s future with the team.

Further reports alleged Cambage had stepped out of the team bubble and was partying in Las Vegas but in a series of videos posted on Instagram on Saturday morning, Cambage said those reports were “fake news”.

“I’ve been at breaking point for a month or so,” Cambage said.

“As soon as I put out that little statement yesterday I felt a world of anxiety and pressure and heaviness I have been carrying lift straight off me.”

Cambage said her actions and words against Nigeria were on film although neither Basketball Australia or Nigeria have released video of the incident.

“Yeah, things got heated in the Nigeria game, there was a physical altercation and there was words exchanged,” Cambage said.

“But I’m hearing things that aren’t true at all. Things flying around from people in Australia and America, which is crazy, but everything that happened and everything that was said is on film.

“So, I know what happened. I do not appreciate the lies and the people constantly trying to tear me down, hating on me won’t bring you love.”

Cambage hit out at claims she was partying, stating she had only left her room for team training and for Thursday’s WNBA All-Star game. She was selected for the World team but didn’t play, citing fatigue from training with Australia.

“I’ve been trapped in this room, with no view, with nothing, for a week,” Cambage said.

“Of course I’m gonna lose my mind in here, you serious, I’m seeing reports that I went out partying. Shit, I wish I did. I know some of the people in Vegas have been having a really good time this week but I’ve been in here, bro. I’ve been in here.

“The only time I left this goddamn bubble was for the All-Star game. I don’t appreciate the lies.”

Cambage said she would take a vacation for the next two weeks.

“Yesterday was literally one of the hardest decisions of my life, but it had been coming,” Cambage said.

“I’ve been having breakdowns in the car park at Whole Foods [a US supermarket], like non-stop panic attacks, hyperventilating at the thought of going into one of the most pressure situations in the world, which is already in a bubble.

“The main reason I sat out of the WNBA bubble last season was my mental health, like, I’m not OK in a bubble.

“I’m not OK playing in front of no fans, mentally I’m escapist, if I have no escape from a situation it gives me anxiety and I panic and there is definitely no escape in Tokyo except for leaving. I would not want to do that to the team.”

Opals coach Sandy Brondello spoke after her side’s 70-67 win over gold medal favourites USA in Las Vegas on Saturday morning, which was Australia’s first win over USA women since 2010.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Brondello said. “But it shows the character of this team and it’s been tough. I wasn’t quite sure what the game would look like today to be quite honest, not just taking into account what happened there but also we hadn’t played together as a team for 18 months.

“We’ve had a training camp, that’s about it.

“Liz has made a statement, I don’t want to divulge too much into that but she made a statement that was the right decision for her. And we’re gonna respect that decision, and definitely going to support her.

“Mental health is a real issue and she’s grasped that and moved on and, but for now, she’s not going to be with us so we’re just focused on the future, not the past.”

Brondello is waiting to hear if the International Olympic Committee will grant the Opals leave to replace Cambage, otherwise the team will play with 11 players in Tokyo. The Opals have two reserve players in Australia, either of whom could be asked to join the team for Tokyo.

“They usually say it to a physical injury or COVID but you know this mental health is an injury too,” Brondello said.

“If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just do it the old Aussie way and say, ‘OK, it is what it is’.”

Cambage wished the Opals and all athletes at the Olympics well for the weeks ahead.

“This Olympics ain’t gonna be easy and it’s going to be survival of the fittest and that ain’t no point dragging someone over that’s already feeling mentally weak,” Cambage said.

“I just want to set a few things straight. Peace and love always forever. I’m going on vacation for two weeks.”

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Roy Ward is a Sports writer for The Age.

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