Team Australia will be missing its best player in Tokyo with WNBA star Liz Cambage announcing her decision to withdraw from the upcoming Summer Olympics. The 29-year-old cited her recent mental health struggles, admitting to panic attacks, lack of sleep and concern over the isolation she would experience playing without friends or family overseas.
“It’s no secret that in the past I’ve struggled with my mental health and recently I’ve been really worried about heading into a ‘bubble’ Olympics,” shared Cambage in a Twitter post. “No family. No friends. No fans. No support system outside of my team. It’s honestly terrifying for me. The past month I have been having panic attacks, not sleeping and not eating.”
A four-time WNBA All-Star and the league’s leading scorer in 2018, Cambage’s abrupt exit may have been facilitated by a reported “altercation” that took place during Thursday’s scrimmage with Nigeria, which was not open to the media. The 6’8” Australian has represented her country on the national stage twice before, competing in the 2012 London Games and again four years later in Rio. The former second overall pick boasts season averages of 14.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game for Las Vegas.
One of the more outspoken voices in the WNBA, Cambage briefly considered boycotting the Olympics over racial injustices but quickly reversed course, joining the Opals for their training camp/exhibition slate in Las Vegas. Mental health in sports has been a hot topic of late, receiving greater attention following tennis star Naomi Osaka’s decision to leave the French Open after skirting her media obligations due to anxiety and depression. Richard Sherman’s arrest earlier this week has fueled a similar discussion with reports suggesting he suffered a breakdown of sorts, threatening to kill himself while under the influence of alcohol. A known advocate of mental health, Kevin Love also withdrew from the Olympics Friday, though his departure was attributed to injury.
“Relying on daily medication to control my anxiety is not the place I want to be right now. Especially walking into competition on the world’s biggest sporting stage,” expressed Cambage in her statement Friday. “I know myself, and I can’t be the Liz everyone deserves to see compete for the Opals. Not right now at least.”
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