Liz Cambage to sit out WNBA season

Las Vegas Aces star Liz Cambage is expected to sit out the 2020 WNBA season, with Howard Megdal of The Next reporting confirmation via a league source.

Cambage is still in Melbourne, and this week spoke to the media about the Opals "RiseUp" campaign against racism, supported by Basketball Australia. Her presence in Melbourne fueled rumours she was set to bypass the WNBA season like fellow Opals star Bec Allen as others headed to the US last week.

New York Liberty star Allen had already pulled out of the WNBA season to due to health and travel concerns related to COVID-19, while fellow Opals stars Alanna Smith (Phoenix), Leilani Mitchell (Washington), and Seattle duo Sami Whitcomb and Ezi Magbegor had all jetted off to the US a week ago.

Another indicator that appears to support Megdal's report is that the Aces have just signed Avery Warley-Talbert, with General Manager Dan Padover shoring up his front court to cover the anticipated absence of Cambage.

The absence of 28-year-old Cambage would leave a massive hole in the Aces lineup and indeed one of the league's highest profile stars. The 6'8 centre averaged 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in 2019 after shaking off injury, and without her, the Aces championship aspirations are dealt a severe blow.

The COVID-19 delayed 2020 WNBA season is now slated to start later this month at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.