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 reveals her political allegiances by LIKING Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris… putting firm end to Republican rumors
Caitlin Clark reveals her political allegiances by LIKING Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris… putting firm end to Republican rumors. Taylor Swift’s online support for Kamala Harris’ presidential run has gained the approval of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. In an Instagram post published…
Lexie Hull’s Mom Demands Indiana Fever Star to Stay “Humble and Kind” Amid Hot Form in WNBA Playoff Rush
The Indiana Fever is hitting its stride at just the right moment. With the regular season still ongoing, the team is riding high, having lost only once in their last seven games. While Caitlin Clark’s stellar performance has certainly been…
Calls Mount For WNBA Commissioner’s Firing After Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Comments
Calls Mount For WNBA Commissioner’s Firing After Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Comments The rookie rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese has brought attention on the WNBA to new heights in the 2024 season. While this rivalry has come with a lot of good for the…
BREAKING: Angel Reese Claps Back at Fake Injury Claims & Call Haters By Offensive Name
Chicago Sky rookie Angel Reese sent a clear message to those claiming she’s faking her wrist injury. Aug 25, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) looks on during the first half of a basketball game against…
Angel Reese Shares Details About Season Ending Injury And Addresses The Haters
Sky Forward Angel Reese Drops Big Update on How Long Her Recovery Will Be. After announcing she suffered a season-ending wrist injury against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday, Chicago Sky rookie forward Angel Reese took to TikTok to set the record straight on…
Why are the Chicago Sky still struggling to feed the ball to Kamilla Cardoso?
The Chicago Sky had a simple goal ahead of their game Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks: Feed Kamilla Cardoso. Coach Teresa Weatherspoon set the expectation. Without Cameron Brink on the court, the Sparks didn’t have the size or the…
End of content
No more pages to load