Kamilla Cardoso will not play in each of South Carolina’s next two games. The women’s basketball star, who is projected to be a top-10 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, will be busy.
She is traveling back home to Brazil to compete for her country’s national team during its upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament. That’s pretty cool!
Cardoso is currently averaging a team-high 13.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game for the Gamecocks. Her presence on the floor is a big part of why they are the only remaining team without a loss.
However, Cardoso will not be with the team against Missouri on Thursday night or against 11th-ranked UConn on Saturday. South Carolina is going to need to find a way to win both home games without its 6-foot-7 center. It is something that the nation’s top-ranked team has been able to do, but having her on the floor obviously provides a big boost on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, Cardoso and Brazil will play Australia on Thursday, Serbia on Saturday and Germany on Sunday. She is the best story of the upcoming qualifiers— a young star with a very bright future returning home to try and lead her country to glory.
Dawn Staley allowing Cardoso to travel and compete is also pretty cool. Some coaches may not allow their best player to leave the team for a March Madness-like matchup (UConn) in the middle of the year.
Staley made it abundantly clear to Kamilla Cardoso that she would never deny her the opportunity to play for Brazil during the recruiting process. The two-time national championship coach was already planning for the future and it ultimately came to exist!
Cardoso is set to make her return to the Gamecocks for their game against the Volunteers in Tennessee next Thursday. It will be interesting to see if the team is still undefeated when she gets back!