NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - The wrangle between Liz Cambage and Basketball Australia has left both parties in a difficult position moving forward.

As an outsider looking in, this is a terribly ugly saga that does little for either.

Whether it is a fair conclusion to draw is irrelevant - because rather regrettably, perception is what matters and not the reality.

It is also impossible to truly make a judgement on a thankfully rare dispute of this type, because without the in-depth details from either side, we are left guessing and dealing with that aforementioned perception.

Ultimately, seeing a star player and a major women's basketball federation making public statements about each other is plainly ridiculous.

Once it transcends grown-up discussions behind closed doors, you have to fear that irreparable damage has and will continue to be done.

I sincerely hope not, because I believe that Cambage will be a better player and will also look back on her career with greater satisfaction if she has a glittering international career to reflect on.

Remember, she has already missed one FIBA Women's World Championship through the misfortune of an injury.

You have to assume that her Olympic place could be in serious jeopardy.

One view is that she has sent a clear message of her commitment in terms of trying to get back onto the Opals roster.

Only actions do speak louder than words and somewhere, communication channels have either broken down or been overlooked.

What I find most baffling and of greatest concern in all of this, is that, according to the Australian media, those advising the player could actually explore and indeed apparently invoke a legal challenge to get her back onto the roster.

Perhaps I don't fully understand the context and hands up if I am missing something - but of everything I have read so far, this has been the most alarming development. I really don't get that advice at all. It seems crass to me and kind of trying to kick the door down to get back into the locker room.

The response by Basketball Australia seems to be that she won't be re-joining the team for the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship and they won't be discussing the situation further.

The matter looks to be closed for them.

Well unfortunately, that is wishful thinking in the extreme. I do have sympathy for their position, since unlike Cambage, they have much wider and complex considerations to take into account.

The profile of Cambage means this isn't going to go away and will linger. This current impasse is likely to lose momentum, but it will rear its ugly head at regular intervals.

I am staggered that things have deteriorated to such a level - and we must assume it is going to take something hugely significant to change it.

Perhaps most pivotal in all of this is the damage it could have inside the Opals locker room.

It should not affect what happens in terms of them comfortably stamping their pass to Rio next year, but between this and the airplane wheels touching down in Brazil, things may fester further.

After all, there was an even uglier falling out between the likes of Rachael Jarry and Cambage on social media, which even brought the spotlight down on the women's game from the mainstream media.

This soap opera is surely going to run and run - although with each passing episode, the stock of Cambage in particular is going to drop further and further.

What a pity for such a great player and a proud women’s basketball nation.

It could be a distinct no-win situation now in terms of the actual basketball - something which looks to have been lost in a debate which has touched up on so many other issues - including race.

In terms of the hardwood perspective, if Cambage is not brought in from the cold in time for Rio, the Opals miss a great player and their medal chances might be affected.

If she is brought back, you have to assume there could be some chemistry issues and therefore their medal chances might also be affected.

The danger for Cambage with this kind of analysis is that Basketball Australia and head coach Brendan Joyce could now come to the conclusion that omitting her in the medium to longer term is merely the lesser of two evils.

What a mess.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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