Elizabeth Cambage lifts Australia’s Olympic spirits with slam dunk against Russia (VIDEO)
Australian center Elizabeth Cambage (C) vies with Russian centre Irina Osipova (L) with Liz Jackson (top R) standing by during the women’s preliminary round group A basketball match of the London 2012 Olympic Games Russia vs. Australia on August 3, 2012 at the basketball arena in London.
Australia's Elizabeth Cambage has become the first woman to slam dunk at an Olympics, unofficially at least.
According to the Associated Press, FIBA couldn't confirm whether the 6-foot-8 center's dunk against Russia in London was the first in a women's Olympic game, but her teammates couldn't remember another one.
"That's the first time I've seen it in the Olympics," said three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, an Australian team member who also plays for Seattle Storm.
"Even in the WNBA, you see some girls do it, on a fast break, but she had the zone around her, she had people around her. She made it look so easy. I wish I could do that."
Cambage, the AP reported, was the second pick by the Tulsa Shock in the 2011 WNBA draft.
According to Australia's Fairfax media, Cambage was known by her Aussie teammates to dunk at training sessions but thus far hadn't done it in a game.
However, Cambage — who finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Australia's 70-66 victory against Russia — didn’t hang from the ring, NBA-style.
The stunning third-quarter dunk did earn buckets of admiration from Twitter users, media outlets, her team and even from opposition players.
Tweeters even re-christened her "Slambage," Australia's Nine Network reported, citing the following posts:
@helpinghoops tweeted: "Congrats to @ecambage for getting non bball people talking about the game #slambage"
@MeganHustwaite wrote: "Slam bam Cambage!!!!!!! Just saw @ecambage's dunk WOW. Rewriting the #olympic record books @AussieOpals style!!"
Cambage herself responded on Twitter to the wellwishings: "LOL I CAN'T BELIEVE #SLAMBAGE IS TRENDING!!!!"
Australia coach Carrie Graf was thrilled with the dunk, Nine wrote:
"It's wonderful for things like that to happen in women's basketball and if things like that bring more appreciation for the game and more people to see our game, that's a good thing."
Russian guard Becky Hammon, meantime, reportedly said: "Cambage posterizing people is good for women's basketball. Making plays like that, memorable moments, people aren't going to remember who won or lost that game. They'll remember that dunk."
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