Kamilla Cardoso, a senior center from South Carolina, played a vital role in both of the Gamecocks’ opening wins against top-15 teams. These impressive victories helped them secure the top spot in the most recent Associated Press Top 25 poll. With a scoring margin of +33.5, Cardoso was the leading scorer and rebounder for her team in their wins over No. 10 Notre Dame (100-71) and No. 14 Maryland (114-76). She shot an impressive 66.7 percent from the field and averaged a double-double.

As a result of her outstanding performance, Cardoso earned the No. 7 seed in the Top 25 CBB ranking, surpassing even LSU’s Angel Reese. However, due to the intense rivalry to make the cut, several players were removed from the list. It remains to be seen how conference play will affect the rankings going forward.

Kamilla Cardoso in the Top 10

Aliyah Boston has passed on the torch to Cardoso, and the Gamecocks have seamlessly continued their success. In fact, Cardoso’s performance has been even better than Boston’s at this time last year, and South Carolina finds itself in the same position as it did a year ago—unbeaten and sitting atop the nation, earning 7th place in CBB rankings

Cardoso made history in the season opener against Notre Dame on November 6th in Paris, recording the program’s first-ever 20-point, 15-rebound performance. This achievement had previously been accomplished by Aliyah Boston during the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four game against Louisville.

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Not only did Cardoso secure four blocks throughout the game, but she also grabbed ten of her fifteen rebounds in the first half, with eight coming in the second quarter alone. The Gamecocks dominated, ultimately winning 24-8. In the third quarter, Cardoso scored thirteen of her twenty points, with eight of them coming in the opening four minutes.

In the team’s home opener against Maryland, Cardoso’s presence in the paint proved invaluable in keeping the defenders occupied, allowing the Gamecocks’ 3-point shooters to thrive. She contributed 12 points to the team’s success, and seven players from South Carolina (2-0) scored in double figures. The Gamecocks’ remarkable 114-point performance against the Terrapins set a program record for the most points scored against a ranked opponent.

Read More: Women’s CBB Ranking: While Caitlin Clark Sweeps Top Spot, Where Is Angel Reese?

Where does Kamilla Cardosa hail from?

Cardoso, a basketball player at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is a native of Montes Claros, Brazil. She averaged 24.1 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 9.2 blocks per game while she was a senior. Cardoso was chosen to participate in the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald’s All-American Game.

She turned down offers from UConn, Ohio State, Mississippi State, and South Carolina to play collegiate basketball at Syracuse, where she was rated as a five-star prospect and the number-five player in her class by ESPN. She had the greatest recruit rating in the history of the program.

Cardoso’s presence on the low block is nearly unstoppable due to her stature. However, she also earns a spot in our top 10 because of her talent and determination to sprint the floor, both on offense and defense. She is currently ranked third in the nation with an average of 3.5 blocks per game and leads the Gamecocks in scoring, rebounds, and field goal percentage.

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