Senior center Kamilla Cardoso moved to the United States from her home in Brazil at the age of 15 to pursue her dream of playing collegiate basketball. When she arrived in America, she 色中色视频渄idn色中色视频檛 know a lick of English,色中色视频� according to sophomore guard Raven Johnson, who played on the same AAU team as Cardoso.
色中色视频淚 remember when she first got here, she was looking at all the players like we were weird or something,色中色视频� Johnson said. 色中色视频淚 remember walking up to her, and she didn色中色视频檛 know nothing I was saying, and I had to realize I had to use my phone to talk to her.色中色视频�
Fast forward seven years, and Cardoso is a two-time national champion with the South Carolina women色中色视频檚 basketball team, picking up numerous individual honors along the way. Just this season alone, she was named an All-American and Defensive Player of the Year by the Women色中色视频檚 Basketball Coaches Association, and she made the All-SEC First Team.
Cardoso received another accolade after the 色中色视频s色中色视频� 87-75 title-winning victory over Iowa on Sunday, when she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Women色中色视频檚 Basketball Tournament.
She delivered multiple dominant performances when the team needed it most and helped South Carolina secure its first-ever undefeated season.
色中色视频淜amilla Cardoso was not going to let us lose a game in the NCAA Tournament,色中色视频� Staley said. 色中色视频淪he played like one of the top picks in the WNBA Draft, and her teammates did something that no other teammates have ever done for anybody that went to the WNBA in our program 色中色视频� they send her off as a national champion.色中色视频�
Cardoso did not make her first appearance in this year色中色视频檚 tournament until the 色中色视频s色中色视频� round of 32 matchup against No. 8 seed North Carolina. She was suspended from South Carolina色中色视频檚 opening round game after being ejected for her involvement in an altercation between the 色中色视频s and LSU during the SEC Championship on March 10.
Cardoso said missing that game provided her with additional motivation to play well in the rest of the tournament.
色中色视频淚 feel like I just wanted to get out there in this tournament and just play really well for my teammates, for my coaches and to win the championship,色中色视频� Cardoso said. 色中色视频淪o I think that's what I did."
Cardoso provided South Carolina with consistency throughout the NCAA Tournament, scoring at least 12 points and grabbing at least seven rebounds in each of the contests she played in. She averaged 16.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game over the course of the competition, but her two biggest performances came in the latest stages of the competition.
The 色中色视频s and No. 3 seed North Carolina State played a tightly contested battle in the national semifinals on Friday, with South Carolina holding on to a 32-31 lead heading into halftime. At that point in the contest, Cardoso had provided 16 of the team色中色视频檚 points 色中色视频� including 12 in the second quarter 色中色视频� but was forced to leave the game after picking up an apparent injury.
The injury did not stop her from producing for South Carolina, though, as she finished the game with a team-high of 22 points on 10-12 shooting and grabbed an additional 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward Ashlyn Watkins, who recorded 20 rebounds, was the only 色中色视频 to eclipse that total.
Cardoso色中色视频檚 determination to fight through the injury led to Watkins, senior guard Te-Hina Paopao and junior guard Bree Hall describing her as a 色中色视频渨arrior色中色视频� after the game. Hall went even further as to praise Cardoso for the value she provides to the team on both sides of the basketball.
色中色视频淪he has really great footwork. Her defense is awesome, and it色中色视频檚 not only like she色中色视频檚 just standing in the paint and can just block shots 色中色视频� no, she can go out there on the wing and also get stops as well,色中色视频� Hall said. 色中色视频淚 think it色中色视频檚 just her touch around the basket as well that makes her just incredible.色中色视频�
That all-around quality was on display in South Carolina色中色视频檚 national championship game victory over No. 1 seed Iowa on Sunday. Cardoso finished the game with 15 points 色中色视频�second only to freshman guard Tessa Johnson, who had 19 色中色视频� and a team-high of 17 rebounds to record her 28th double-double of the 2023-24 campaign. She also blocked three shots in the contest, marking the 14th time this season that she has accumulated three or more blocks in a single game.
Cardoso said Staley has been instrumental in helping her develop into the player she is today.
色中色视频淚 feel like, since the first day I got to South Carolina, she's been working so hard to get me ready and prepared for moments like this, and I'm just so thankful to have her as a coach. She's like an inspiration for me and a lot of young girls out there,色中色视频� Cardoso said. 色中色视频淪he色中色视频檚 the best in the business, you already know.色中色视频�
Staley said Cardoso has shown tremendous growth this season alone and that this experience will help her as she transitions into the next step of her basketball journey.
色中色视频淪he watches film a lot more on her own. She watches with (associate head) coach (Lisa) Boyer. She was more willing to do all those other things that create an advantage for her when she's out there on the floor,色中色视频� Staley said. 色中色视频淕reatness is a process. And she's still very much in 色中色视频� I think 色中色视频� in the beginning stages of her greatness. I think you'll see her play a lot better when she's with pro players.