INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Let’s be honest. The defensive plan for most teams in the WNBA for Liz Cambage is to rush her like a pack of wolves. It is impossible to think that while she is surrounded by this pack, she is not being mauled in some way and thus, a foul should be called. But time and time again, Cambage is forced to play on after the refs are oblivious to the battle she just endured.
Is she the first big in basketball to endure this? No.
Will she be the last? Absolutely not.
However, what have we learned from every big player that has come before her? The more you cry about it, the worse it gets. When looking at these first nine games of the season, we’ve learned Cambage is on course to make things worse.
Cambage was an underwhelming 2-11 from the field. Nine of her 13 points came from the line. Nneka Ogwumike tried to put the team on her back putting up 30 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Katie Lou Samuelson had another great night providing great floor spacing and putting up 19 points.
After Lexie Brown went out with calf soreness in the first half, what the Sparks needed was for Cambage to play through her frustration, get back on defense, and worry about getting the Sparks second straight win after a five-game losing streak.
Although the 101-96 loss to the Indiana Fever gives the Sparks (3-6) the third worst record in the league, the team focused on a more pressing issue during the postgame presser. Ogwumike and Samuelson did not answer questions. Instead, they said they will no longer be silent regarding Brittney Griner.
The two called for the media to tell Griner’s story, for fans to call the White House, sign the petition, and use #WeAreBG on social media to discuss the pay equity issue that led to Griner’s detainment. While addressing President Joe Biden, Ogumike said “please use all available resources to get Brittney Griner home!”
Griner has now been detained in Russia for over 95 days.
The Sparks will face the Minnesota Lynx in Minnesota on Sunday at 4 PM PST.
