Thursday, 20 September 2018:
 | | Australia's ELIZABETH CAMBAGE shoots during the women's semifinal basketball game of London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena in London, England. | |
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Opals legend Michele Timms has urged Liz Cambage to rise above niggly opponents so she is able to shine at the women's basketball World Cup in Spain.
Australia begin their campaign in Tenerife against Nigeria on Saturday, and despite sitting at No.4 in the world they enter the tournament as second favourite behind heavyweights USA.
Much of that confidence is due to star centre Cambage's recent form in the WNBA, where she notched a league record 53 points in a game for the Dallas Wings.
FIBA Hall of Famer and three-time Olympian Timms, who made history as the first Australian woman to play in Europe and the WNBA, warned Cambage to keep her cool when provoked - a skill she is mastering.
"Emotionally she's grown as a player but she needs to be in a good headspace and not reacting," she said.
"Teams are going to target her, they did in the WNBA this season and we saw she got a lot better at dealing with it.
"If she keeps her emotions balanced she's unstoppable ... she could really take a stranglehold on the world here."
Timms, who was an assistant coach at three Olympics, said Cambage had improved dramatically since rivals - including the Americans - sought to rattle her at London 2012 before the Opals claimed bronze.
She believes Cambage's inside presence, the perimeter scoring threat offered by Sami Whitcomb and the team's defensive depth means the Opals could topple the USA and claim their first World Cup since 2006.
"Not being involved for the first time in a long time, sitting back as a spectator, it's exciting and they look pretty darn good," Timms told AAP.
"The way it's all unfolded, they have a fantastic schedule and Liz is the best big player in the world, if not the best player.
"That's a big statement but what we saw of her in the WNBA this season suggests that."
Australia are drawn against world No.34 Nigeria, No.15 Argentina and No.7 Turkey in pool play while the USA, Japan, China and Japan shape as their as their main rivals.
Meanwhile, Cambage, Jenna O'Hea and Alex Bunton have all been carefully managed in the lead-up by coach Sandy Brondello while Leilani Mitchell and Lauren Mansfield have both withdrawn due to foot injuries during the last fortnight.
The duo have been replaced by Rio Olympian Tessa Lavey and Whitcomb, a member of the recently-crowned WNBA champions Seattle.
OPALS' WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
v Nigeria - 8.30pm (AEDT), Saturday, September 22
v Argentina - 8pm, Sunday, September 23
v Turkey - 8.30pm Tuesday, September 25
Quarter-finals - September 28
Semi-finals - September 29
Medal games - September 30
OPALS RECORD AT THE WORLD CUP
Gold - 2006; Bronze - 1998, 2002, 2014
