The infamous fight involving former WNBA star Liz Cambage during a 2021 scrimmage between the Australian Opals and the Nigerian national team resulted within the Aussie pro being smashed to the ground, based on newly surfaced video footage.
The video leaked shortly after Cambage addressed the incident in a sit-down interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks on Monday, during which she denied calling Nigerian players “monkeys” and told them to “return to your personal third world country” within the pre-Tokyo Olympics scrimmage.
The sport was extremely physical, as seen within the video, which showed Cambage exchanging words with D’tigress players and hitting an opponent within the face while boxing out under the basket.
Things escalated when Cambage swung her arm and made contact with the face of Nigerian star Victoria Macaulay — who was doubled over afterward together with her hand near her nose and mouth while each teams ran back down the court.
After a couple of seconds, Macaulay then sprinted over to the Opals bench and swung at Cambage’s head, knocking her to the ground.
Video footage leaked showing the infamous fight involving former WNBA star Liz Cambage during a 2021 scrimmage between the Australian Opals and the Nigeria national team prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Twitter / Source Public Relations
Video footage leaked showing the infamous fight involving former WNBA star Liz Cambage during a 2021 scrimmage between the Australian Opals and the Nigeria national team prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Twitter / Source Public Relations
That’s when Macaulay and Cambage were held back by their respective teams.
Cambage will be heard within the video saying “I’m done” within the aftermath of the altercation.
The now 31-year-old walked away from the Opals per week before their first game on the Tokyo Olympics, and he or she hasn’t played with the team since.
Footage has surfaced of the infamous Australia vs. Nigeria game where then- WNBA star Liz Cambage was seen elbowing and slapping opponents within the face. In the identical incident, Cambage allegedly called opponents, ‘monkeys.’
Cambage was swung at in retaliation later within the match. pic.twitter.com/MmXI4R2WWq
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 10, 2023
On the time, Cambage said she had been having panic attacks in regards to the considered heading into an Olympic COVID bubble.
In May 2022, former Opals captain Jenna O’Hea backed the allegations that Cambage made racist comments to the Nigeria team.
When asked in regards to the 2021 scrimmage and whether Cambage made the comments to opposing players, O’Hea said, “That’s all one hundred pc correct” while serving as a panelist on ABC’s “Offsiders.”
Liz Cambage on the “Taylor Rooks X” Bleacher Report podcast on August 7, 2023. Bleacher Report
While recalling the situation with Rooks, Cambage denied the allegations — as an alternative she claimed she is “in cahoots” with the Nigerian team while expressing her interest to play for them.
Nigeria Basketball Federation vice chairman Babs Ogunade denied speaking with Cambage about playing for it on Tuesday.
“Disregard the news,” he told ESPN’s Colin Udoh. “I don’t know who she’s talking to. Not me and definitely not (NBBF president Ahmadu Musa) Kida.”
Following Cambage’s bombshell interview, Nigerian stars furiously repudiated Cambage’s claim
“I’m sorry but this is fake,” Nigerian guard Promise Amukamara wrote on X, former often known as Twitter, on Monday. “She called us monkeys and told us to return to our country. Yes she said that!
“Literally everyone from each teams have the identical story BUT her, so y’all do the maths!”
She called us Monkeys & told us to return to our country. Yes she said that!
— Promise Amukamara, OLY (@iPromisee) August 7, 2023
In one other tweet, Amukamara wrote, “& the one person she has been in ‘cahoots’ w/ was the previous coach of our National team & he’s now not the coach, so there’s that!”
D’tigress guard Sarah Ogoke also spoke out, writing: “We aren’t recruiting you and you actually spewed racist profanities against us during our scrimmage.”
Cambage released a press release on Twitter Tuesday “to see the record straight” about her comments. and the leaked video.
Liz Cambage celebrates after they won 83-74 agaist Russia throughout the Women’s Basketball Bronze Medal game on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 11, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
“Before the scrimmage, I had expressed concerns to Opals staff in regards to the unacceptable playing conditions inside the COVID ‘Bubble’ they were imposing,” Cambage wrote. “The circulating video portrays a highly physical game with no officiating, leading to me being attacked and sustaining a concussion.
“Contrary to false claims I didn’t use racial slurs or seek advice from anyone as a monkey, which is clear from the footage.”
Cambage then clarified her comments about her interest in joining the Nigeria national team.
“To set the record straight, I never stated that I had officially joined the Nigerian national team,” she wrote. “As a substitute, I expressed my interest in joining the team and representing Nigeria.
“I had discussions with staff members in regards to the essential steps to turn out to be eligible and thought I used to be doing them. I extend my best wishes to all players on D’Tigress.”
Cambage concluded her statement with: “I also send well wishes to all my former teammates. Looking forward to seeing you all on the court.”
