By James Cooney For Daily Mail Australia
04:01 14 Nov 2023, updated 04:01 14 Nov 2023
- Cambage deletes most of her Instagram posts
- Star leaves just one photo relating to basketball
- Remaining shots show star in minimal clothing
Polarising Australian basketball star Liz Cambage has raised eyebrows with an unusual social media move after signing a $1million mega-deal with a Chinese basketball side.
Cambage was sacked by her WNBA club LA Sparks and told her time in the Australian Opals was over this year following a series of race-related controversies.
With her WNBA and international career in tatters, it looked like the end of the road for the 31-year-old centre.
However Cambage, known as one of the sport’s most controversial figures, has recently announced a lucrative three-month contract with Chinese team Sichuan, worth an eye-popping $1million.
Now Cambage has gone through her Instagram account and deleted all but 12 posts – and only leaving one that shows her on a basketball court.
The remaining shots show the basketball star in varying states of undress, with her most recent post captioned ‘bad lil kitties doing bad lil things’ leaving fans scratching their heads.
Cambage is pictured in one image on all fours sipping red wine. In another she is posed with model Raya Martigny on some steps.
Just two weeks ago, Cambage confirmed her $1million signing on Instagram with a story that included the line: ‘One milly then I’ll perform’.
‘If they hate then let ’em hate and watch the money pile up,’ she posted separately.
This massive deal is one of the biggest in women’s basketball history, standing in stark contrast to the WNBA, where even the highest-paid players are capped at a maximum annual salary of $234,936.
Cambage’s astronomical earnings will see her rake in nearly four times that amount in just a fraction of the time.
The contract is slated to commence next year and is rumored to include substantial bonus clauses, according to a report from News Corp.
It comes after the former Opal was spotted partying in Ibiza after a playing stint at Israel-based club Maccabi Bnot Ashdod earlier this year, following her unexpected exit from the American top-tier league.
‘I have always loved my time in China and I am really looking forward to getting out onto the court again,’ she said.
‘It’s one of the strongest leagues in the world and I have played many seasons there over the years.
‘Some of the best players in the world play in the league and it will be great to meet my teammates and the whole support team very soon.
‘They have a great successful culture of embracing and backing everyone which is why they have been so successful as a club.’
Despite being a four-time WNBA All-Star, WNBL MVP, and an Olympic bronze medalist, Cambage’s career had been marred by a series of controversies.
One of the most significant turning points came in 2022 when she found herself at odds with the Los Angeles Sparks, effectively bringing her WNBA career to an end.
Reports circulated that Cambage had a heated confrontation in the team’s dressing room, expressing frustration over her lack of involvement in the game.
A contentious press conference with Nigerian-American teammate Chiney Ogwumike, who rolled her eyes at Cambage, only added fuel to the fire.
These incidents ultimately led to her departure from the Sparks in July of that year.
Then Cambage faced a considerable backlash and was barred from representing her country after a highly-publicised incident ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
She was accused of making derogatory remarks towards Nigerian players, referring to them as ‘monkeys’ and telling them to ‘go back to your third world country.’
These comments strained her relationship with her Australian national team teammates, including Ezi Magbegor, who is of Nigerian descent.
Rachel Adams is your WNBA insider, delivering comprehensive coverage of women’s basketball. With a commitment to highlighting the talent and achievements of WNBA players, she provides game analysis, player profiles, and inspiring stories from the league.