Dominance – Australian style.
Liz Cambage put up a historic stat-line today, with 53 POINTS (including 4 threes), 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks to become the record leader in most points in a single #WNBA game!
Watch @ecambage make history 🔥 #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/9O9gPVhcUv
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 17, 2018
Just when it seemed that the New York Liberty were showing signs of righting the ship, they ran into the Dallas Wings and Liz Cambage, who ended up etching her name further into the WNBA’s record books.
Her 53-point outing at home led her team in what was a 104-87 win over New York.
It was not only the 53-point output that was impressive, but the manner in which she managed those 53. She shot 17-22 from the field and was 15-16 from the free throw line. Whenever Cambage had the ball, it was practically a shoo-in to go through the hoop.
The previous record was set by current Los Angeles Spark Riquna Williams who had 51 in a single game in 2013.
#WNBA record 53 points
17/22 FG
4/5 3FG
15/16 FT
10 rebounds
5 blocksHISTORY for @ECambage! #WatchMeWork
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 17, 2018
Lots of people inside and outside basketball circles began uttering Cambage’s name as she became a worldwide trender on Twitter. Because of Cambage’s international basketball presence alone, her name will certainly ring bells when mentioned.
BURYING THE LEDE: THE LAST PERSON TO POST LIZ'S STAT LINE WAS MICHAEL JORDAN https://t.co/mY8c8m3BDi
— Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) July 17, 2018
Young Legend 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/3koj7KgCtX
— Skylar Diggins-Smith (@SkyDigg4) July 17, 2018
I’ve had big numbers in China, I’ve had big numbers in Australia, and I’ve heard a lot of people say I could never have big numbers here in the WNBA. So, I guess this game is for y’all.
When you break a WNBA record for most points in a single game… What'd you do today? 😏💅 pic.twitter.com/uzhzTIPh0s
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) July 17, 2018
What made it all the more impressive was the scenario the Wings were in. Dallas led 57-44 before a furious New York comeback gave them a 73-71 lead towards the close of the third quarter. The Liberty outscored the Wings 29-17 in the third frame, so Cambage’s 53 was not a case of garbage time, stat-padding buckets.
.@ecambage joins @KristenLedlow & @3DTV to talk about her legendary performance tonight after scoring a @WNBA record 53 PTS!#GameTime pic.twitter.com/PDnNxog7j2
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 18, 2018
Dallas needed every single one of those 53 – and they got them. One has to wonder what sort of defensive strategy Mike Thibault’s Washington Mystics will devise to cool off Cambage – the Wings play the Mystics in Arlington on Thursday.
July 17, 2018 will go down as a banner day in WNBA history. Not only did Cambage make history and had the social media space abuzz, but there was also the following courtesy of the Atlanta Dream…
Liz Cambage: Ain't no one knocking me off the top of the WNBA highlight reel tonight.
Tiffany Hayes: Hold my beer.— Richard Cohen (@RichardCohen1) July 18, 2018
FROM HALFCOURT @tiphayes3 FOR THE WIN! 🚨🚨 #WatchMeWork pic.twitter.com/tlxQJ6O9Qf
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 18, 2018
A few hours after the Atlanta Dream’s Tiffany Hayes found out that she was not on the list of players headed to Minneapolis for the All-Star Game, Hayes had many W aficionados wishing the WNBA would re-open the voting after that half-court buzzer-beater.
That one lifted the Atlanta Dream to an 86-83 victory over the Sun.
If not for the Cambage performance, Hayes’ half-court heave would have stolen the WNBA headlines and would be the primary topic of Wednesday watercooler conversation.
Alas, not a shabby day at the office. It is not every day in any basketball league where one sees 53 points scored in a single game along with a miraculous half-court hail Mary to win it for your team.
The WNBA continues to prove the haters wrong one day at a time.
By: Akiem Bailum (@AkiemBailum on Twitter, Instagram)
