Get to Know Kamilla Cardoso: South Carolina’s Undefeated Star
The first 3-pointer of Kamilla Cardoso’s career was a huge one. In the last moments of their Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal matchup against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers on Saturday in Greenville, South Carolina, the center for the South Carolina Gamecocks found herself down 73-71.
Get to Know Kamilla Cardoso: South Carolina’s Undefeated Star
With her first three-pointer of the season, the Gamecocks prevailed and extended their winning streak to at least one more evening.
The WNBA draft hopeful had no time to choose where to pass the ball after Raven Johnson’s throw-in. Rather, she fired a shot from the shadow of the arc. Dawn Staley urged her to “shoot that blanky-blank.”
KAMILLA. CARDOSO. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!?
Gamecocks win! 🐔 pic.twitter.com/XLgxdTUKlN
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) March 9, 2024
It was destined to happen. She made her first 3-pointer of the season to give the Gamecocks their 37th consecutive conference win.
It was her career’s first made three. The 2020–21 season was the last time the SEC Defensive Player of the Year attempted a three-point shot while she was a player for Syracuse. The senior made his 114th appearance since then on Saturday.
Because of this, the No. 5 Tennessee Vols left her wide open with 1.1 seconds remaining in the game, leading 73-71, but the Brazilian center demonstrated that every Gamecock is a danger when the ball is in play.
We got to speak with @GamecockWBB star Kamilla Cardoso today for the first time since Paris.
Her thoughts on the team's win, overcoming 24 turnovers, and her message to the younger players:@wachfox pic.twitter.com/rcoWYjx2xQ
— Matt Dowell (@MattDowellTV) March 8, 2024
The 6-7 Cardoso is well-known to fans of the gamecocks. Quietly effective, she won the SEC Sixth Player of the Year award the previous season. She wasn’t a starter, but she still averaged 8.5 rebounds per game, which was second only to the incredible Aliyah Boston. She was the third-most point scorer for the Gamecocks with an average of 9.8 per game.
In her last season, she improves even more, scoring 14.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest.
Cardoso attended Syracuse for her freshman year before moving to Columbia, which is located farther south.
“I knew with the players we had on the floor, pretty much the only person who was going to be open was Kamilla,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said. “So I just told Raven [Johnson] to get the ball to Kamilla. And I told Kamilla, ‘Hey, pass it to [Te-Hina] Paopao,’ and then at the last second I was like, ‘Kamilla, shoot it.'”
Cardoso’s shot garnered praise from some big names on social media.
"It's amazing, I just wanted to do everything I could for my teammates."
Kamilla Cardoso after her game-winning three pointer against Tennessee.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year also told us that it felt great to be able to have that moment in front of her family.… pic.twitter.com/V5lKTx6x2s
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) March 10, 2024
Where is Kamilla Cardoso from?
Cardoso is a native of Brazil’s Montes Claros.
She competes for the national team of her country, and they have won gold in the FIBA AmeriCup in 2023 and the South American Championship in 2022. In February, she skipped her time with the Gamecocks to play in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where Brazil lost all three games.
Hugs with the family for South Carolina HERO Kamilla Cardoso after her buzzer beating three to win it for the Gamecocks!@GamecockWBB | @wachfox pic.twitter.com/gLbTS8SRH7
— Matt Vereen (@MattVereen) March 9, 2024
One thing that sets Cardoso apart is her trip from Brazil to Columbia, South Carolina. At the age of 15, she went to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from her birthplace in order to pursue a career in the WNBA and NCAA. She tragically moved away from her sister and mother. When Cardoso first came, she couldn’t even speak English.
Who are Kamilla Cardoso’s parents?
But this year’s March 2 was the best day of all. When Cardoso’s mother, Janete Soares, and elder sister, Jessica Silva, came to town for South Carolina’s Senior Day football game against Tennessee, Staley and the program took her by surprise. She had left Brazil in 2015, so they hadn’t seen her play in person until the senior ceremony, when they had the opportunity to speak with her.
"She works on that shot every day, we're so proud of her."
Raven Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, Tessa Johnson, and Milaysia Fulwiley's instant reactions to Kamilla Cardoso's game winning three against Tennessee. @WLTX | #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/iQsrfp4vSP
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) March 10, 2024
SEC women’s basketball tournament schedule 2024
Wednesday, March 6: First round
Game |
---|
Game 1: No. 12 Kentucky 64, No. 13 Georgia 50 |
Game 2: No. 11 Florida 66, No. 14 Missouri 60 |
Thursday, March 7: Second round
Game |
---|
Game 3: No. 9 Texas A&M 72, No. 8 Mississippi State 56 |
Game 4: No. 5 Tennessee 76, No. 12 Kentucky 62 |
Game 5: No. 7 Auburn 67, No. 10 Arkansas 48 |
Game 6: No. 11 Florida 62, No. 6 Vanderbilt 59 |
Kamilla Cardoso. Pure ONIONS.
Over 4 seasons, this was the 119th game of Cardoso’s college career.
This was her 2nd EVER 3pt attempt.
This is her 1st EVER 3pt make.
South Carolina stays unbeatean, a perfect 31-0 record.
March is madness. pic.twitter.com/aJsy4XXjQq
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 9, 2024
Friday, March 8: Quarterfinals
Game |
---|
Game 7: No. 1 South Carolina 79, No. 9 Texas A&M 68 |
Game 8: No. 5 Tennessee 83, No. 4 Alabama 61 |
Game 9: No. 2 LSU 78, No. 7 Auburn 48 |
Game 10: No. 3 Ole Miss 84, No. 11 Florida 74 |
Saturday, March 9: Semifinals
Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|
Semifinal 1: No. 1 South Carolina 74, No. 5 Tennessee 73 | 4:30 p.m. | ESPNU, Sling |
Semifinal 2: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 Ole Miss | Approx. 7 p.m. | ESPNU, Sling |
Kamilla Cardoso getting a well deserved standing ovation after her game winner against Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/FLkZUcpBbM
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) March 9, 2024
Sunday, March 10: Championship
Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
---|---|---|
Championship: No. 1 South Carolina vs. Semifinal 2 winner | 3 p.m. | ESPN, Sling |
WNBA Draft order 2024
First Round
- Indiana Fever
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Chicago Sky (from Phoenix)
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
- Dallas Wings (from Chicago)
- Washington Mystics
- Minnesota Lynx
- Chicago Sky (from Atlanta, via Los Angeles)
- Dallas Wings
- Connecticut Sun
- New York Liberty
- Atlanta Dream (from Las Vegas, via Los Angeles)
HOLY HELL!!!!!
Kamilla Cardoso saves @GamecockWBB undefeated. First 3 of her career. @espn @espnw pic.twitter.com/jYdTEP8xXe— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) March 9, 2024
A sizable audience from South Carolina screamed in excitement, and Cardoso was surrounded by her jubilant colleagues. The college is located only around 100 miles away from the Greenville arena.
“I was very happy my teammates believed in me,” Cardoso said. “I didn’t have best game I could have, off all night. I was happy I could make the shot and take them to the finals.”
Cardoso was having a game last weekend for her senior day celebration with her mother and sister, who traveled from Brazil. Their first opportunity to watch her perform live since she departed the nation at the age of fifteen was this week.
FINAL: KAMILLA CARDOSO THREE AT THE BUZZER TO WIN IT!!!
SOUTH CAROLINA ADVANCES TO THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP@GamecockWBB | @wachfox pic.twitter.com/lI9ptaRaNk
— Matt Vereen (@MattVereen) March 9, 2024
Who is the South Carolina 6-foot-7 female basketball player?
How the 6-foot-7-inch South Carolina Kamilla Cardoso discovered development in South Carolina. Even on the best basketball team in the world, a 6-foot-7 player finds it nearly hard to blend in.
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