Liz Cambage facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Liz Cambage

Cambage with the Las Vegas Aces in 2019
No. 18 – Sichuan Yuanda
Centre
Personal information
Born	(1991-08-18) 18 August 1991 (age 33) London, England
Nationality	Australian
High school	Padua College (Mornington, Victoria)
Listed height	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight	216 lb (98 kg)
Career information
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Tulsa Shock
Pro career	2007–present
League	Women's Chinese Basketball Association
Career history
2007	Dandenong Rangers
2007–2008	Australian Institute of Sport
2009–2012	Bulleen Boomers
2011	Tulsa Shock
2012–2013	Zhejiang Chouzhou
2013	Tulsa Shock
2013–2014	Beijing Great Wall
2015–2016	Shanghai Swordfish
2017–2018	Melbourne Boomers
2018	Dallas Wings
2018–2019	Shanxi Flame
2019, 2021	Las Vegas Aces
2020	Southside Flyers
2022	Los Angeles Sparks
2023	Maccabi Bnot Ashdod
2024–present	Sichuan Yuanda
Career highlights and awards
WCBA champion (2024) WNBA Peak Performer (2018) 4× WNBA All-Star (2011, 2018, 2019, 2021) All-WNBA First Team (2018) All-WNBA Second Team (2019) WNBA scoring leader (2018) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2011) 2x WNBL Champion (2011, 2020) WNBL MVP (2011) 4x All-WNBL First Team (2010, 2011, 2018, 2020)
Medals Representing  Australia Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London Team FIBA World Cup Silver 2018 Spain Commonwealth Games Gold 2018 Gold Coast Team

Elizabeth "Liz" Cambage (born August 18, 1991) is a well-known Australian professional basketball player. She plays for the Sichuan Yuanda team in China. Liz is famous for being a "centre" player, which means she usually plays close to the basket.

She has won many awards during her career. These include the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) championship twice. She also won the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) championship in 2024. Liz holds a record in the WNBA for scoring 53 points in a single game. She achieved this amazing feat on July 17, 2018.

Liz also played for the Australian national team, called the Opals. She won a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also earned a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup. At the 2012 Olympics, her team won a bronze medal.

Early Life and Basketball Start

Liz Cambage was born in London, England, on August 18, 1991. Her father is Nigerian and her mother is Australian. When Liz was only three months old, her parents separated. She then moved to Australia with her mother.

They first lived in Eden, New South Wales. Later, when Liz was 10, they moved to Melbourne. After that, they settled in the Mornington Peninsula.

Liz is very tall, standing at 2.06 meters (about 6 feet 9 inches). When she was young, her height sometimes made her feel different. By age 10, she was already 1.83 meters (6 feet) tall. At 14, she reached 1.96 meters (6 feet 5 inches). Her mother suggested she try basketball. This helped Liz make new friends and discover her talent.

Professional Basketball Career

Liz Cambage plays as a centre in basketball. This position is often for the tallest players. In 2009, she played in the Under-20 Australian National Championships. Many people thought she would become a big star.

Playing in Australia (WNBL)

Liz started her junior basketball career with the Dandenong Rangers. She joined their WNBL team for the 2007–08 season. In 2007, she also got a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). She played for the AIS team in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL).

In August 2020, Liz returned to the WNBL. She signed with the Southside Flyers for the 2020–21 season.

Playing in the USA (WNBA)

Cambage celebrates her defence of Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx

In 2011, Liz was drafted by the Tulsa Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). At first, she was unsure about playing for them. She wanted to improve her game and learn. She also played in the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game.

Liz Cambage at a 2011 WNBA All-Star event

After the 2012 Summer Olympics, Liz decided not to finish the WNBA season. Her agent said she was very tired from playing for the national team.

Liz returned to play for the Tulsa Shock in 2013. However, she did not play in the WNBA for five years after that. In February 2018, she signed a new contract. This time, it was with the Dallas Wings.

Cambage playing for Dallas in 2018

On July 17, 2018, Liz had an amazing game against the New York Liberty. She scored 53 points, which set a new WNBA record! The Dallas Wings won that game. Liz was chosen for the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game again. She continued to play very well, leading the league in scoring.

In 2019, Liz asked to be traded from the Wings. She then joined the Las Vegas Aces. She was voted into the All-Star Game for the third time. The Aces had a strong season, reaching the semifinals.

In 2020, Liz decided to sit out the WNBA season. This was due to health concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. The Aces still did well, reaching the finals without her. In 2022, Liz signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. Later that year, she asked to be released from her contract. In August 2022, Liz announced she was taking a break from the WNBA.

Playing in China (WCBA)

In June 2012, Liz signed with the Zheijang Chouzhou team in China. This was a big contract, making her one of the highest-paid female basketball players.

However, in 2019, Liz shared that she sometimes faced payment issues. She mentioned not being paid after an injury. She wondered if players were always treated fairly for their sacrifices.

In 2024, Liz returned to the WCBA. She signed with Sichuan Yuanda. She played very well, helping her team win the WCBA championship. She decided to stay with the team for the 2024–2025 season.

Playing in Israel

On March 3, 2023, Liz signed with an Israeli women's basketball team. This team was called Maccabi Bnot Ashdod. This was her first time playing in an Israeli league. She had played in Australia, the United States, and China before.

National Team Career

Liz Cambage at the Opals' training camp in Canberra, May 2012

Liz Cambage has been a key player for the Australian national basketball team, known as the Opals. In 2009, she helped the junior team win a gold medal. She also won a silver medal at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan.

Her first time playing for the senior Opals team was in 2009. She played against China in a test series. She also helped Australia win a gold medal at the Oceania World Qualification Series.

In 2010, she was part of the team that toured China, the United States, and Europe. She also played in the World Championships in the Czech Republic. Liz was a very important player for the team's success.

Olympic Games

Liz was chosen to be on the Australian team for the 2012 London Olympics. She was seen as a crucial player. On August 2, 2012, she made history. She successfully dunked the basketball with one hand in a game against Russia! This was a rare and exciting moment in women's Olympic basketball. Liz and the Opals won a bronze medal in London.

Before the 2014 World Championships, Liz had a serious injury. She tore her Achilles tendon, which meant she could not play for eight months.

At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Liz was the top scorer and rebounder for her team. The Opals reached the quarterfinals. She also helped the Australian team win a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In 2021, Liz was named to the national team for the Tokyo Olympics. However, she decided to withdraw from the team. She stated that this was due to mental health reasons.

See also

In Spanish: Liz Cambage para niños