‘I Will Never Let A Man Disrespect Me…Especially A Little White One’: WNBA Star Slams Coach Who Said She Weighed 300 Lbs

After a coach of a rival WNBA team called for a foul against her on Sunday, saying, “’C’mon, she’s 300 pounds,” the Las Vegas Aces’ three-time All-Star Liz Cambage, who stands 6’8” and weighs 235 pounds, responded on Instagram, writing, “I will never let a man disrespect me, ever, ever, ever, especially a little white one.”

Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller’s comment on Sunday triggered Cambage to tell her 580,000 Instagram followers:

Something went down in today’s game and I need to speak on it because if there’s one thing about me, is that I will never let a man disrespect me, ever, ever, ever, especially a little white one. The coach of Connecticut, I’m sorry, little sir man, I do not know your name, but the next time you try to call out a referee, you know, I’m trying to get a call, being like, “C’mon, she’s 300 pounds,” I’m gonna need you to get … cause I’m 6’8”. I’m weighing, I just double-checked, ’cause I love to be correct and get facts, I’m weighing 235 pounds and I’m very proud of being a big b****, Big Benz, Big B.

So don’t ever try to disrespect me or another woman in the league. I don’t know if that’s how coaches run, you try to disrespect women like that from the sideline? You’re so lucky it was during a game; that whole part, you were so lucky I was doing my job. … To that little man, how little? Tiny. Where is you? Stop trying to protect your insecurities, baby, pick up the phone, call the psych, because you’re projecting some bulls**. And next time you try to disrespect me, remember, I’m 235. It might seem like 300 to your little eye. I’m 235, baby.

She added, “I have to say one more thing: I think there’s a difference between players and players, like talking on the court, but for a coach for another team to be yelling, like, protected abuse, we can’t do nothing back. It’s just crazy to me.”

After her Instagram post, Cambage posted a video of herself in a gym working out to a song titled “Big Body Benz.”

Miller apologized on Monday, saying, “During last night’s game, while arguing a call with an official, I made an inappropriate and offensive comment in reference to Liz Cambage’s height and weight. I regret what I said in the heat of the moment and want to sincerely apologize to Liz and the entire Aces organization. I understand the gravity of my words and have learned from this.”

But Miller was suspended and fined by the WNBA. “The fine is $10,000, and the one-game suspension will keep Miller out of Connecticut’s matchup with the Seattle Storm on Tuesday,” The New York Times reported on Monday, adding, “This is Miller’s sixth year coaching the Sun, who are undefeated in five games this season and have the best record in the W.N.B.A.”

In early May, Yahoo Sports reported on Cambage’s activism:

Las Vegas Aces center and Australian national team star Liz Cambage is threatening a boycott of the Tokyo Olympics after an Olympic Australia promotional photo didn’t include athletes of color. Cambage, who is Black, shared a photo of a Jockey Australia photoshoot with Olympic and Paralympic athletes to her Instagram stories, writing “HOW AM I MEANT TO REPRESENT A COUNTRY THAT DOESN’T EVEN REPRESENT ME.” She included a #whitewashedaustralia” hashtag. 

Cambage posted on Instagram, “If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, how am I meant to represent a country that doesn’t even represent me. Australia, wake the f*** up. I’m not playing these games no more, I’m not. It’s sad, the whitewashing is sad. Your black athletes lead you everywhere. Indigenous athletes are some of the best athletes we have. An y’all don’t use them at all.”

Cambage later said she would play in the Olympics.