Cambage skipping season for her health

NEW YORK — Las Vegas Aces All-Star center Liz Cambage is expected to miss the WNBA season for health reasons, according to her agent.

“In the evaluation of Liz Cambage’s health and preexisting risk factors with her team doctor, we believe her to be at high-risk for severe illness if she contracts COVID-19 in participating this WNBA season,” Cambage’s agent, Allison Galer, said Saturday night. “We are awaiting the league’s determination based on an independent physician panel.”

Galer declined to elaborate what the preexisiting conditions were, citing Cambage’s privacy.

The 6-foot-8 Australian’s case is one of a handful that is before the league’s independent panel of doctors people familiar with the situation told the AP. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the players nor the league have publicly identified them, with the exception of Cambage.

The panel of physicians decide whether a player would be medically excused and receive full salary for the season, which is scheduled to start at the end of the month in Florida at IMG Academy. Players can still opt out and skip the season if the panel does not grant them a medical waiver. They will not get paid.

Teams are expected to head to Florida on Monday to start quarantining before training camp opens.

“We planned for 2020 to be a big year for Liz and she was excited to play with the Las Vegas Aces and compete for a championship,” Galer said.