Kamilla Cardoso
Cardoso with South Carolina in 2022
No. 10 – South Carolina Gamecocks
PositionCenter
LeagueSoutheastern Conference
Personal information
Born (2001-04-30) 30 April 2001 (age 22)
NationalityBrazilian
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Career information
High schoolHamilton Heights Christian Academy
(Chattanooga, Tennessee)
College
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Brazil
FIBA AmeriCup
Gold medal – first place 2023 Mexico Team
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Puerto Rico Team
South American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 Argentina Team

Kamilla Soares Cardoso (born 30 April 2001) is a Brazilian college basketball player for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). She previously played for the Syracuse Orange.

High school career

A native of Montes Claros, Brazil, Cardoso played high school basketball for Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As a senior, she averaged 24.1 points, 15.8 rebounds and 9.2 blocks per game. Cardoso was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.[1] Rated a five-star recruit and the number five player in her class by ESPN, she committed to playing college basketball for Syracuse over offers from UConn, Ohio State, Mississippi State and South Carolina.[2] She was the highest-rated recruit in program history.[3]

College career

As a freshman at Syracuse, Cardoso was the team's starting center and averaged 13.6 points, eight rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game, becoming the first player in program history to win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year award.[3] She shared ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors from the league's coaches with Lorela Cubaj and was named first-team All-ACC by the Blue Ribbon Panel.[4] Following the season, Cardoso transferred to South Carolina.[3] As a sophomore, she was a reserve for Aliyah Boston, averaging 5.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and helping her team win the national championship.[5] In her junior season, Cardoso averaged 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game off the bench. She was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Sixth Woman of the Year and second-team All-SEC.[6]

National team career

Cardoso represented Brazil at the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Puerto Rico. She averaged 9.9 points and eight rebounds per game, helping her team win the bronze medal.[7] Cardoso won a gold medal and earned MVP honors at the 2022 South American Basketball Championship in Argentina. She averaged 14.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in the tournament.[8] Cardoso led Brazil to a gold medal at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico, where she was named tournament MVP and averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 69–58 win against the United States in the final.[9]

References

  1. ^ Curtis, Mike (4 March 2021). "How Syracuse center Kamilla Cardoso went from high school phenom to ACC's best rookie, defender". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. ^ Emerman, Danny (7 November 2019). "Syracuse lands 5-star class of 2020 forward Kamilla Cardoso". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Curtis, Mike (30 April 2021). "Former Syracuse women's basketball center Kamilla Cardoso transfers to South Carolina". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  4. ^ "ACC Women's Basketball Announces 2021 Award Winners". Atlantic Coast Conference. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  5. ^ Cloninger, David (8 December 2022). "Gamecocks' Kamilla Cardoso chooses dominance after Dawn Staley sermon". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  6. ^ Fowler, Chapel (6 July 2023). "Who starts and who sits for South Carolina WBB? Early projections for 2023 season". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Kamilla Soares (BRA)'s profile – FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021". FIBA. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  8. ^ Wellbaum, Chris (6 August 2022). "South Carolina women's basketball: Kamilla Cardoso leads Brazil to a gold medal, captures MVP honors". Gamecock Central. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Kamilla Soares honored as MVP, leads All-Star Five at Women's AmeriCup". FIBA. 10 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.