CANBERRA (WNBA/FIBA World Championship for Women) - One of the biggest stars of the women's game won't be competing in the WNBA this year after Liz Cambage followed in the footsteps of potential future Opals team-mate Leilani Mitchell by opting to focus her energies on the FIBA World Championship for Women.

Having averaged more than 16 points per game last year for Tulsa Shock, the WNBA side has announced that their 22-year-old Australian won't be returning for the forthcoming season and is remaining in her homeland to prepare for when the action gets underway in Turkey.

"As an organisation, we were very disappointed when we learned that Liz will not be returning to Tulsa for our fifth season," said Steve Swetoha, the President of the Shock.

Meanwhile, head coach Fred Williams added: "I am disappointed Liz will not be with us this season.

"I was looking forward to working with her on the basketball court."

The news will however come as another huge boost for Opals head coach Brendan Joyce who, with Cambage on board and fully integrated, will know his team's medal prospects are significantly enhanced.

Cambage has recently been playing in the WCBA where she has once again proven to be one of the main box office attractions of the Chinese League.

The center also memorably permeated the mainstream sports media while playing at London 2012, when she famously threw down a dunk in the city of her birth.

However, she first rose to prominence at the FIBA World Championship for Women in Czech Republic four years ago, when she stepped out on the global stage for the first time and averaged 13.6 points per game - the identical scoring return she would go on to achieve in the British capital.

Joyce is also going to have Mitchell dedicated to preparation too, with the guard looking more and more likely to be included in the final roster - something which would see her make a debut at the international level.

"While the decision has been very difficult, I have decided to stay in Australia for the summer to continue to spend time with my family and train with the national team in preparation for the World Championship," Mitchell explained to the New York Liberty and their fans.

"This past off-season I played in Australia. In addition to enjoying playing here, I have been able to get to know and spend time with relatives on my mother's side, that I either had not met before, or just have not been able to spend much time with.

"It has been such a blessing getting to know them and also learning more about my roots and family background."

Mitchell looks to be one of the main contenders to strengthen a backcourt weakened by the retirement of long-serving Opals veteran Kristi Harrower.

Australia will play Belarus, Cuba and Korea in Group C in Istanbul.

FIBA