Liz shoulders marquee load
LEADING Opal Liz Cambage says she is ready to wear the pressure that comes with being the WNBL’s marquee player this season.
The 25-year-old is back in the Australian league after a five-year hiatus and will turn out for competition favourites Melbourne Boomers.
The league starts next month and will be broadcast by Fox Sports.
It has been a long road back to Australian basketball for Cambage. Stints in club competitions in China and the US led into the Opals’ campaign at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
After sailing through the group stage, Australia lost in the quarterfinals to Serbia, crushing all involved.
“It was heartbreaking. My motivation was rock bottom after the Olympics,” she said yesterday.
Cambage took time away from the sport and has spent her past year acting her age — travelling, going to festivals and letting her hair down.
A whirlwind 12 months ended at desert festival Burning Man last month, with Cambage now fully charged and ready to fire on-court.
“I had a couple of rough years mentally and physically with basketball so it was good to take a year off. I think a lot of athletes should do it,” she said.
“For me to be back and playing in my home town, it’s nice.”
Cambage said she was ready to play the role of basketball ambassador.
“If I can get more people to games and more kids playing, that’s me doing my job and I’m happy,” she said.
Basketball Australia chief executive Anthony Moore said Cambage’s return had fuelled hopes of the league’s 38th season being a banner year.
“The talent coming into the league makes it one of the biggest and most exciting in WNBL history,” Moore said.