One of the top centers in international women's basketball will call Arlington home this summer as the Dallas Wings have signed Liz Cambage to a multi-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The 6-foot-8 Cambage is a three-time Player of the Year, taking two honors in 2011 as the Australiabasket.com Player of the Year and Australian WNBL Player of the Year as well as being tabbed as the All-Chinese Player of the Year in 2016. The three-time All-Australian WNBL First Team member (2011, 2012, 2018) also garnered Asia-Basket.com All-Chinese WCBA First Team honors (2013, 2014, 2016) and Asia-Basket.com Chinese WCBA All-Imports Team (2013, 2014, 2016). She has been named Center of the Year twice by the WNBL (2011, 2012) and three times by the WCBA (2013, 2014, 2016) while leading her teams to five championships.
"Liz is one of the best players in the world and her return to our organization will greatly improve our basketball team,"said Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb. "Her offensive ability will add another dimension to Coach Williams' fast-paced, high-scoring brand of basketball, while her size and defensive presence will greatly improve our ability to protect the rim and rebound on the defensive end of the court. We are thrilled to have Liz back in the WNBA and wearing a Dallas Wings uniform."
Cambage is a two-time Olympian for Australia's Opals, claiming a bronze medal with Team Australia in the 2012 Olympics at the age of 20. During those Games, she gained international noterieity for becoming the first women to dunk in an Olympic contest.
"Liz is a triple-threat player who can shoot, pass and defend inside the paint extremely well,"said Wings head coach Fred Williams. "She will provide a strong inside-out threat that I think will be very exciting for our fans and the league, but she's also a great addition to the culture we've built the last few years. I can't wait to start the 2018 season with the team we've put together."
The 26-year-old Cambage finished as the top scorer in the WNBL this season while playing for her hometown Deakin Melbourne Boomers. She averaged 23.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Boomers to the WNBL Grand Final Series. Recently, she was honored with the 2017-18 Michele Timms Medal, the Boomers Most Valuable Player Award, while finishing second in WNBL MVP voting. During her WNBL career, Cambage has averaged 23.1 points per game, with 9.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 229 contests.
The Wings organization drafted a then 19-year old Cambage with the second overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. She spent parts of two seasons with the then-Tulsa Shock (2011 and 2013) and earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors in 2011. Cambage has career WNBA averages of 13.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while appearing in 53 games.
The team will officially introduce Cambage at a press conference scheduled for February 26. The presser will take place at College Park Center, located on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. Cambage, along with Head Coach Fred Williams and President & CEO Greg Bibb, will be in attendance. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT.
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