Australian WNBA star pulls out of Olympics due to mental health

The Australian Olympic Committee said on Friday that WNBA star Liz Cambage will not be participating in the Tokyo Olympics next week, ESPN reported, citing mental health.

“Liz has made a great contribution to the Australian Olympic Team over two Olympic Games campaigns. We respect her decision and wish her the best in returning to full health,” Australian Olympic Committee Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman said.

“Our focus now moves to working with the Opals so they can achieve the goals they have set for themselves in Tokyo. We know they are totally committed to achieving success in Tokyo and they will still bring a incredibly strong team to this campaign,” Chesterman added.

Cambage, who plays for the Las Vegas Aces in addition to the Australian Opals, said in a statement that she was apprehensive about living without her support system in the isolated conditions of the Tokyo games.

“Anyone that knows me knows one of my biggest dreams is winning an Olympic gold medal with the Opals. Every athlete competing in the Olympic games should be at their mental and physical peak, and at the moment,” she said.

“I’m a long way from where I want and need to be. 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. 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,” she added.

Her departure comes after reports Cambage and her team, the Opals, were discussing her future after a physical and verbal altercation at a closed-door scrimmage. 

“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,” Cambage said in her departure from the games. “It breaks my heart to announce I’m withdrawing from the Olympics, but I think it’s best for the Opals and myself. I wish them nothing but the best of luck in Tokyo and I hope they go forth and win a gold medal. Love and light.”

The Olympics is set to start next Friday, even as Japan deals with a surge of coronavirus cases.