A much-awaited sporting spectacle in the form of the Paris Olympics is about to grace the year 2024. While there will be multiple categories of sporting excellence that will be on display, a significant number of eyes will be on the women’s basketball court. Among the many star-studded groups who will challenge Team USA’s dominance in Paris, hardly anyone would count out the No.3 FIBA-ranked Australia. But does the selected set of athletes also include one of its most controversial figures, Liz Cambage?

The 4× WNBA All-Star recently signed a mammoth contract extension with the Sichuan Yuanda Basketball Club in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association. One of the eye-catching terms of her reassociation is the whopping paycheck, which promises her more than $1 million per annum. One would have thought this development might have laid significant groundwork for her inclusion in the 12-member roster for the Olympics. Unlike power forward Lauren Jackson, however, Liz won’t be making her return to the national team for this edition.

The last time Cambage was an Australian flag bearer was the 2016 edition of the Olympics that took place in Rio. Here, she led the team all the way to the quarterfinals by becoming the top scorer and rebounder for the team. Although the team didn’t manage to contest the gold medal game against the US in London in 2012, Liz Cambage played an instrumental part in bringing home the bronze medal by defeating Russia. In addition to this, she also became the first female athlete to successfully slam dunk a basketball in Olympic history.

Anyhow, her participation was cut short in the Tokyo Olympics when, despite getting selected, she was forced to withdraw her name just 2 weeks prior to the competition due to some incidents in a pre-Olympics training game against Nigeria. As of now, the possibility that she will join the current lot is highly unlikely.

Which players made the Opals’ final 12 after the Liz Cambage snub?

Making her comeback after a gap of 12 years is the 4x Olympic medalist Lauren Jackson. The veteran will take part in her 5th Olympics, becoming the only Opals player to do it. At the same time, Cayla George and Marianna Tolo will have a chance to play in their third Olympics. Meanwhile, Rebecca Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, and Steph Talbot will represent Australia for the second at this prestigious event.

As for the debutants this time around, Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb, Jade Melbourne, and Isobel Borlase will occupy that section of participants.

Australia is placed in Group B as the highest-ranked team. The group also comprises 5th-ranked Canada, hosts France, who are 7th along with the 12th-placed Nigeria. The basketball games will commence from July 27 and continue till August 10. After the group stage games are completed in Lille, the teams making it out to the knockouts will contest further at the Bercy Arena in Paris.

Despite Liz Cambage missing out this time, there is no denying that she has been a tremendous ambassador for the Opals. Her contributions and impact have played their part in the overall success of the team previously. Her supporters will hope that she makes her way back into the roster soon enough.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.