Photo credit: Shawn McCullough (Sports Radio Service)

By Shawn McCullough

The Las Vegas Aces pulled off one of the biggest trades in the WNBA’s 23 year existence.

Last Thursday, the Aces traded point guard Moriah Jefferson, forward Isabelle Harrison and their 2020 first round draft pick to the Dallas Wings for center Liz Cambage.

Cambage led the WNBA in scoring last season averaging 23 points per game and also averaged 9.7 rebounds per game.

Not only does the 6-8 Australian center fill a need for a dominant presence in the paint for the Aces, but she also brings much needed leadership to a young Las Vegas team.

“Liz is perfect for our town and our team,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.  “We needed a big power player on the inside, but the most important thing about Liz is that she’s a smart basketball player. She knows the game, she knows how to involve her teammates and she brings an attitude that we don’t presently have, a toughness and an attitude of how you play basketball.”

“I am very excited to be here,” said Cambage. “Now teams can’t double-team me.   What, are you going to leave A’ja [Wilson] open? Are you going to leave the girls open on the 3-point line?  We have so many strengths in every area.  It is so exciting.”

But despite being very happy to be in Las Vegas now, Cambage struggled on her road to Sin City.

She was drafted in 2011 at the age of 20 by the Tulsa Shock, but was very unhappy with her first year in Tulsa and with the organization.

“I was drafted to a team that I was open to not wanting to be a part of.  When I came to the league, I was looking to be nurtured, I wanted to grow and I wanted to be looked after and cared for, but I was thrown in the deep end and I was just another object,” said Cambage in tears at her introductory press conference.  “My first year in Tulsa, I cried on the phone every night to my mum and my agent because I just wanted to be out of there.   The Tulsa Shock didn’t care and it ruined me to the point where I had to step away.”

From the day she was drafted in 2011, she only played three seasons in the WNBA (2011 and 2013 in Tulsa and 2018 in Dallas – formerly the Tulsa Shock).  Outside of the WNBA, Cambage played three years for three different teams in China, averaging 30.5 points per game.

After the acquisition of Cambage, the Aces are now considered the favorites to win the 2019 WNBA championship.