Standing at six feet and nine inches, Liz Cambage redefined what it means to dominate the center position in women's basketball. Her path from a fast-growing kid in Australia to a global basketball force features record-breaking performances, international championships, and intense public scrutiny. Let's look past the headlines to explore the actual career trajectory, milestones, and numbers that define her journey on the court.
Early physical development set the stage for her athletic path. Born in London and raised in Australia, Cambage reached six feet tall by age ten and six-foot-five by fourteen. To help her socialize and channel her height productively, her mother suggested basketball. That simple recommendation sparked a rapid ascent through the Australian junior ranks, leading to a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and her debut in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) before she turned twenty.
Professional Rise in Australia and Global Leagues
Unlike most American stars, Cambage bypassed the NCAA system entirely, turning professional directly in the WNBL. Her impact was immediate. She earned league MVP honors and her first WNBL championship with the Bulleen Boomers in 2011. She later added a second WNBL title with the Southside Flyers in 2020, cementing her status as a domestic legend in Australia.
Her club career quickly expanded overseas. In 2012, she signed with the Zhejiang Chouzhou club in China, commanding one of the highest salaries in women's basketball at the time. Over the next decade, she played in multiple international leagues, including stints in Israel with Maccabi Bnot Ashdod and capturing a Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA) championship with Sichuan Yuanda in 2024, where she averaged 23.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
WNBA Impact and Historic Records
The Tulsa Shock selected Cambage as the second overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. Though her initial relationship with the franchise was complicated, she earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team and her first of four career All-Star selections during her debut season.
Her peak WNBA performance arrived during the 2018 season with the Dallas Wings. On July 17, 2018, she put on a historic scoring exhibition against the New York Liberty, pouring in 53 points to set a single-game WNBA scoring record that stood for years. She finished that season as the WNBA scoring leader, earned WNBA Peak Performer honors, and collected All-WNBA First Team recognition.
Across six total WNBA seasons split between the Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, and Los Angeles Sparks, Cambage compiled regular-season career averages of 15.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting over 53 percent from the field. She stepped away from the WNBA in August 2022 to focus on her international career and personal endeavors.
International Career with the Australian Opals
Representing the Australian national team, the Opals, brought some of Cambage's proudest athletic achievements. She debuted for the senior national team in 2009 and immediately anchored the paint.
- 2012 London Olympics: Captured a bronze medal, famously recording a thunderous one-handed dunk against Russia—only the second dunk in Olympic women's basketball history.
- 2016 Rio Olympics: Led the Opals in both scoring and rebounding as they advanced to the quarterfinals.
- 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games: Won a gold medal representing Australia on home soil.
- 2018 FIBA World Cup: Secured a silver medal following a dominant tournament performance.
Her national team tenure ended prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, when she withdrew from the roster citing mental health concerns following a turbulent pre-Olympic warmup match.
Common Misconceptions and Career Realities
- Did she play college basketball in America? No. Cambage transitioned straight from high school and the Australian Institute of Sport into professional leagues without playing a single minute of NCAA basketball.
- Was she the first woman to dunk in the Olympics? No. Brittney Griner was the first to dunk in the Olympics (in 2016), but Cambage was the first woman to dunk in an Olympic game match setting during the 2012 London tournament.
- Where does she play now? She continues her professional career overseas, winning a WCBA title in China and remaining active in global club competitions.
You can read more about league milestones and player statistics directly on the WNBA Official Site and review historical archives via Basketball Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Liz Cambage?
Liz Cambage is officially listed at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters). Her exceptional height made her one of the tallest players in the history of women's professional basketball.
What is Liz Cambage's single-game scoring record?
She scored 53 points for the Dallas Wings against the New York Liberty on July 17, 2018, setting a benchmark for individual scoring in a single WNBA regular-season game.
How many WNBA All-Star selections does she have?
She was selected as a WNBA All-Star four times: in 2011, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Did Liz Cambage win a WNBA championship?
No, while she earned individual accolades—including a scoring title and All-WNBA First Team nods—she never won a WNBA championship. However, she won club championships in the Australian WNBL and the Chinese WCBA.
