#Gamecocks star Kamilla Cardoso declares for the WNBA Draft

South Carolina women’s basketball star Kamilla Cardoso is heading to the WNBA, but not until she’s done with the Gamecocks. After helping lead USC to this weekend’s “Final Four” in Cleveland against NC State, Cardoso made the announcement via Instagram.

The projected number four overall selection in this month’s WNBA Draft made the announcement a day after the Gamecocks advanced to their fourth straight “Final Four,” thanks in large part to Cardoso’s play. She averages 14 points and nearly ten rebounds per game this season for the undefeated Gamecocks.

A native of Brazil, Cardoso began her career at Syracuse but transferred to South Carolina after just one season. She helped the Gamecocks win a national championship during the 2021–22 season, though she was coming off the bench at that point. After coming off the bench again in the 2022–23 season, she was thrust into Dawn Staley’s starting lineup and has thrived on both ends of the floor. In addition to her offensive numbers, Cardoso averages roughly three blocked shots per game.

That excellence helped earn her the Albany 1 Regional “Most Outstanding Player” award after USC defeated Oregon State on Sunday to advance to the “Final Four.”