The South Carolina women’s basketball team is coming off another strong season under longtime head coach Dawn Staley.
Shamcocks senior center Camila Cardoso is having a breakout season and will likely attract attention from multiple WNBA teams when she declares for the draft.
Cardoso was born in Montes Claros, Brazil and spent his freshman season at Syracuse.
Cardoso is in his third season at the University of South Carolina. She replaced Aliyah Boston, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s WNBA draft and the Naismith College Player of the Year, in the starting lineup this year.
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Camila Cardoso (10) of the South Carolina Gamecocks plays against Delanie Thomas (12) and Camila Mmsbo (21) of the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on December 3, 2023 in Durham, North Carolina. ). (Lance King/Getty Images)
Cardoso’s standout performance this season has contributed to the Gamecocks’ 28-0 record. South Carolina hosts the Tennessee Volunteers on Sunday in the final regular season game for both teams.
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Cardoso has faced numerous setbacks during his rise to basketball stardom. She left her home country when she was in middle school and enrolled in a school in Tennessee, where Ms. Cardoso was able to hone her basketball skills.
Although Cardoso has made progress, he has had to contend with being thousands of miles away from his family. Despite being homesick at times and struggling with the language barrier, Cardoso earned an athletic scholarship to attend Syracuse.
She earned Atlantic Coast Conference honors after her first season in upstate New York and committed to South Carolina, where she continued to shine.
On Saturday, the Shamcoxes shared a video of Cardoso’s emotional reunion with his family.
The South Carolina women’s basketball program captioned a social media post: “Family above everything.”
“This is an incredible moment in some ways for all of us…for someone who has made incredible sacrifices for her family for the last eight years…just for this game, for the game she loves. Only,” Staley said. team.
“We have an opportunity to do something pretty special…well, Camila…Camilla. Let’s take the people who have sacrificed as well over the last eight years.”
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley attends her team’s alma mater after a win over Mississippi Valley State on November 24, 2023 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. (Jeff Blake/USA Today Sports)
South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn is believed to have helped arrange Mr. Staley’s surprise reunion.
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Sunday’s game also marks Senior Day for the South Carolina women’s team. Leaving players are usually honored and accompanied by their families. It looks like Cardoso will have a chance to share a special moment with his family this weekend.
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