Behind Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso’s journey across the world to Chicago and the WNBA.
Kamilla Cardoso took a leap of faith. Leaving her home country as a young basketball player with hoop dreams earned her plenty of accolades, like two-time national champion, and mentors, like Dawn Staley. FOX 32’s Tina Nguyen has Cardoso’s story.
CHICAGO – Eight years ago, Kamilla Cardoso’s life changed forever.
At just 15-years-old, Cardoso hopped on a flight from Montes Claros, Brazil, to the United States in hopes of accomplishing a dream for her family.
“I was really nervous,” Cardoso said. I’m coming to a country that I didn’t know nobody. I didn’t know the culture, everything was really different from Brazil. But I knew I had a dream that I wanted to accomplish.”
That dream was to give her family in Brazil a better life by playing professional basketball.
It started at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Tennessee. There, Cardoso played under Keisha Hunt.
“I saw her video, and she was probably about 6’4, 6’5,” Hunt said. “She probably was about 13, 14 in the video. She was running up and down the court. As fast as the guards. Very coordinated.”
As Cardoso adjusted to playing basketball in America, she was also adapting to the American culture. That included learning the English language.
“She really didn’t know anything, just a few words. Maybe, yes,” Hunt said. “She didn’t really know anything. She wasn’t the first international student that I’ve coached so we did a lot of google translate.”
“That is why I am so proud of her, seeing her talk in interviews now. You would never know that she was once that kid in the classroom and saying, ‘I’m not going up there saying anything.’ to now just feeling so comfortable that she just speaks with such confidence.”
Cardoso would graduate from Hamilton Heights as the No. 1 ranked center in the Class of 2020 and even earned McDonald’s All-American recognition.
After a season at Syracuse, she transferred to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley, a three-time NCAA national championship coach and two-time AP National Coach of the Year.
In her 3 seasons at South Carolina, the 6’7 center earned numerous awards from being named the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time NCAA national champion and the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA Tournament this past season.
“Looking at Kamilla now, it’s well worth the sacrifice because she’s learned so much,” Staley said. “She’s learned a new language, a new culture, while not sacrificing her culture.”
From being a two-time NCAA champion to being selected third overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Kamilla Cardoso is living her dream.
News
Caitlin Clark Hit One of the Coolest Three-Pointers of Her Career in Win Over Dream
This may have been Caitlin Clark’s most impressive three-pointer of the season. Clark shoots a three-pointer during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. / Grace Smith/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images Caitlin Clark…
Caitlin Clark’s Response to Angel Reese’s Season-Ending Wrist Injury Was All Class
News of Chicago Sky star Angel Reese’s unfortunate season-ending injury elicited widespread supportive messages over the weekend. Fellow rookie Caitlin Clark was among those in the WNBA to give Reese a few kind words ahead of the Indiana Fever’s matchup…
Paige Bueckers, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Dawn Staley attend New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces! Paige has been everywhere for real. Love her so much
Paige Bueckers, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Dawn Staley attend New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces! Paige has been everywhere for real. Love her so much. Liberty vs. Aces score: New York holds off Las Vegas in thriller, sweeps reigning…
LAST 2min Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream WNBA basketball! Caitlin Clark Aliyah Boston Kelsey Mitchell
LAST 2min Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream WNBA basketball Caitlin Clark Aliyah Boston Kelsey Mitchell . . VIDEO HERE: Caitlin Clark Makes WNBA History Against Atlanta Dream Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark has continued to improve throughout her historic rookie season. Entering Sunday’s…
“MY BABY”! Former Lady Tiger Angel Reese & Kim Mulkey reunite at Sky vs. Wings matchup
WATCH: LSU coach Kim Mulkey and former Lady Tiger Angel Reese reunite at Sky vs. Wings matchup LSU coach Kim Mulkey was in the house for the Chicago Sky game against the Dallas Wings on Sunday evening at Wintrust Arena. Mulkey…
Angel Reese injured on bench watches game! Bri Turner hit in eye, Angel Reese checks on her – Chicago Sky vs Dallas Wings WNBA basketball
Angel Reese injured on bench watches game! Bri Turner hit in eye, Angel Reese checks on her – Chicago Sky vs Dallas Wings WNBA basketball. . . Dallas Wings officially eliminated from playoffs with loss to Chicago Sky Dallas Wings…
End of content
No more pages to load