While we stateside are following what Team USA does in the build-up to next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, a bit of drama played out in Australia between two of its nation’s most notable basketball stars.
The Opals dropped an 82-69 decision in an Olympic pre-qualifying contest, but a story of the game was Liz Cambage’s ejection. She was frustrated about referees’ calls (or lack of) regarding Japan’s defense throughout the duration of the contest and she eventually was tossed having scored 17 points and hauling in six rebounds.
Enter Lauren Jackson – considered to be women’s basketball royalty in Australia and is the current head of women’s basketball in Australia. Her comments to the Australian Associated Press in regards to Cambage were not exactly glowing.
I get it. I know it’s frustrating and it’s never going to change so she’s just going to have to suck it up.
–Lauren Jackson (per the AAP)
That’s international basketball and it may not be fair.
–Lauren Jackson (per the AAP)
I think for Lizzie to move through this she’s just got to look forward and think about how she’s going to cope with being treated like that by the referees because it’s not going to stop.
–Lauren Jackson (per the AAP)
To which Cambage promptly responded…
or we can send refs that actually have experience reffing talent who aren’t biased or intimidated. Did you even watch the games @laurenej15? https://t.co/hd0efPTLcI
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) November 21, 2019
…and later sang Kumbaya…
just one of those days I gotta remind myself to breathe deeply, hold my tongue and save it all for the book
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) November 21, 2019
love you @laurenej15 and sorry for my tired and jet lagged self for getting defensive. we are sisters for life and I shouldn’t have let a stupid article upset me xx
— Elizabeth Cambage (@ecambage) November 22, 2019
… with Jackson.
Yup, I did! You were hammered as usual, had people hanging off you!
— Lauren Jackson AO OLY (@laurenej15) November 21, 2019
The pre-Olympic tune-up vs. the host country was the first competitive action for Cambage since her Las Vegas Aces were eliminated in the WNBA semifinals in four games by the eventual champion Washington Mystics.
The W’s offseason has apparently been a busy one for Cambage. Not only is she taking the court for the Opals for the first time since claiming a silver medal at last year’s FIBA World Cup, she was featured in Who Magazine’s Sexiest People of 2019 issue.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5MIqu6pbLz/
