On July 22, 2020, the Las Vegas Aces announced that Liz Cambage, who will be missing the 2020 WNBA season due to health concerns, received a medical exemption. She is still eligible for a full salary earning. Mechelle Voepel first announced via Twitter.
The @LVAces' Liz Cambage received a medical exemption for this @WNBA season, Aces confirmed. She wanted to play, but after severe illness in winter, she was ruled medically high-risk by Aces team doctor. League ended up not challenging that assessment. https://t.co/Phv4mY026K
— Mechelle Voepel (@MechelleV) July 23, 2020
Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer stated that “Liz Cambage wanted to play in the 2020 WNBA Season.” However, the team doctor determined her as a “high-risk player.” Cambage, 28, experienced what it was like having COVID-19 and felt “severely ill while playing in China this past winter.” She was in the hospital and said that “she wasn’t able to walk and was in a wheelchair.”
Laimbeer quoted:
“Our team doctor said, ‘No, she’s not going to play in this environment,'” Laimbeer said. “The league said, ‘Wait, we’re maybe going to put her in front of the panel.’ We’re of the position that we stand by our medical staff. Then it became beyond our control regarding whatever happened. “About a week ago, we got a call from the league saying that they were not going to challenge the decision on Liz.”
– Aces Head Coach Bill Laimbeer
Another Players Who Received Medical Exemptions
The other players that will be receiving medical exemptions with a full salary are Asia Durr. She decided to opt-out of the 2020 WNBA Season after testing positive for COVID-19. Tina Charles stated that she should miss this season due to health concerns. She got diagnosed with extrinsic asthma and, thus, is also eligible for medical exemptions. Phoenix’s Jessica Breland stated that she got diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma during her college career. She announced that its best for her to miss the 2020 WNBA season after getting excused medically.
Delle Donne Deserves Better!
The doctors of the WNBA have denied Delle Donne’s medical exemption; she announced this past week. Besides, she had back surgery this past offseason. The 2019 WNBA MVP stated that she has a Lyme disease and would be at high risk if she plays this season. However, the Washington Mystics said that Delle Donne would receive a full salary if she opts out. In her Players’ Tribune article, she shared a story of her reasons why she should sit out this season. Zackery Rogers explained Delle Donne’s story on Beyond Women’s Sports this previous week.
Zackery Rogers stated:
“Ultimately, Delle Donne is torn on making a decision and feels that the WNBA is not listening. Everyone should be able to have their voice heard.”
-Zackery Rogers, Beyond Women’s Sports
Many of you know about my ongoing battle with Lyme Disease, and a compromised immune system. For now I'm following protocol and waiting for a risk assessment from the league medical panel. Missing my teammates but health and safety are the priority 🙏 https://t.co/3oChtiaqXJ
— Elena Delle Donne (@De11eDonne) July 8, 2020
If Delle Donne opts out, I respect her decision and other players who opted out too. I hope she’ll be okay. WNBA, please do better!! Tune in to ESPN for the tipoff this Saturday at 9 am PCT/noon EST on ESPN as the Seattle Storm take on the New York Liberty. It will also be Sabrina Ionescu’s first WNBA game. This season will be dedicated to the Black Lives Matter movement. Players across the league will honor the name of Breonna Taylor on the back of their jerseys.
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