Cambage, Sparks agree to a ‘divorce’
LOS ANGELES » The Sparks announced Tuesday morning that the team has agreed to a “contract divorce” with center Liz Cambage.
A “contract divorce” is a term used in the WNBA for what is likely a contract buyout.
“I was surprised,” said Sparks interim head coach Fred Williams following practice Tuesday. “Emotional shock.” Cambage’s last game was an 85-66 loss in Las Vegas against her former team Saturday. “A lot of emotions flew around,” Williams said. “She wasn’t really on the level with her play with how she felt and then (personal) things, I think, were kinda like lingering with her,” Williams said. “She just felt it was right for her to make that step away.”
Cambage, 30, signed with the Sparks as a free agent Feb. 15. The 6-foot-9 center averaged 13 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots in 25 games this year.
“When I was 19, I said I wanted to be in L.A.,” said Cambage, a four-time All-Star on Feb. 23 at her introductory press conference.
Cambage has had a tumultuous six WNBA seasons. She was drafted second overall by the Tulsa Shock in 2011 despite her saying she didn’t want to play there. Cambage sat out the 2012 season and returned to Tulsa in 2013, then played five seasons in China and Australia.
In 2018, Cambage agreed to a multi-year deal with the Dallas Wings. After one season, in which she scored a WNBA single-game record 53 points, she demanded a trade and was dealt to the Aces. Cambage sat out the 2020 season, which was played in a bubble in Bradenton, Fla., citing concerns due to the pandemic.
Williams admitted he did not expect this to happen during the season, and he described practices without Cambage on Monday and Tuesday as “tight-knit,” with a new emphasis on perimeter-oriented offense.
The Sparks are 12-15 and sit tied for six in the WNBA standings; the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
“Being in the position to make the playoffs, (with) the distraction that hit us right now, my thing is to try to keep the team focused so we can achieve our goal,” Williams said. “I gotta put this team in a position to win games, and we have to move on.”
Cambage was starting to round back into form when she tested positive for COVID-19 nearly two weeks ago, then missed two games. She said it was her third time contracting the virus.
“It’s nice to be back. I’m just happy to be here at the moment,” Cambage said after a 85-78 win against Atlanta on Thursday.
Her final stat line for the Sparks was 11 points, five rebounds, three blocks, two steals and one assist in 22 minutes against Las Vegas.
“It is with support that we share Liz Cambage’s decision to terminate her contract with the organization,” said Sparks managing partner Eric Holoman in a press release. “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.”
Sparks rookie center Olivia Nelson-Ododa will likely see more minutes after Cambage’s exit, behind starters Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike.
The Sparks have also re-signed rookie guard Kianna Smith to her second seven-day contract to provide backcourt/small forward depth.