Liz Cambage
A dominant force in women's basketball whose towering presence and record-breaking scoring redefined the center position.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Australian basketball player·Birthday: August 18·Millennials
Biography
Liz Cambage's impact on basketball is as large as her physical stature. The Australian center stormed onto the global scene with a combination of size, skill, and sheer power rarely seen in the women's game. After winning a WNBL championship in Australia, she became the number two overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft. Her career has been a series of seismic moments: scoring a historic 53 points in a single WNBA game, an Olympic record 30 points in a quarter during the 2012 London Games, and leading the Australian Opals as a focal point of their offense. Cambage's game, marked by formidable post moves and a soft shooting touch, forced defenses to completely recalibrate. Her journey has included high-profile stints in the WNBA, China, and across Europe, making her one of the most recognizable and impactful international players of her generation, though not without its share of public controversy and candid discourse about mental health.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Liz was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Liz Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Liz's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored 53 points in a single WNBA game in 2018, tying the league's all-time record.
- Led the Australian Opals to a silver medal at the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
- Became the first woman to dunk in an Olympic game, doing so at the 2012 London Olympics.
- Won championships in both the Australian WNBL and the Chinese WCBA.
Did You Know?
She stands at 6 feet 8 inches (203 cm) tall.
She is of Nigerian descent through her father.
She has been open about her struggles with mental health and took a break from basketball in 2023.
She is also a recording artist who has released music under the name 'Cambage'.
“I'm not just a basketball player. I'm a person, and I have feelings and emotions.”
