Kamilla Cardoso Bio
Kamilla Soares Cardoso (born 30 April 2001) is a Brazilian professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Guangdong Vermilion Birds of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). Standing 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and playing the center position, she is widely regarded as one of the top young post players in the women’s game. A two-time NCAA champion with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Cardoso earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the 2024 NCAA Tournament before beginning her professional career.
Born and raised in Montes Claros, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Cardoso combines her Brazilian national team experience with a rising profile in the WNBA. She represents the Chicago Sky while continuing to compete abroad during the WNBA offseason, having previously played for the Shanghai Swordfish of the WCBA.
Early Life and Background
Kamilla Soares Cardoso was born in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 30 April 2001. Growing up in Brazil, she developed a passion for basketball at a young age and quickly emerged as a promising talent in the sport. Her size, athleticism, and shot-blocking ability set her apart from peers, and her path eventually led her to the United States for her high school and college years.
Cardoso attended Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she starred as a high school basketball player. As a senior, she averaged 24.1 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 9.2 blocks per game, drawing national attention. She was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, and was rated a five-star recruit and the number five player in her class by ESPN. She committed to playing college basketball at Syracuse over offers from UConn, Ohio State, Mississippi State, and South Carolina, becoming the highest-rated recruit in Syracuse program history.
Path to Basketball
Cardoso’s transition to elite American basketball began with her standout senior season at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, where her dominant rebounding and shot-blocking numbers made her one of the most coveted post prospects in the country. Her McDonald’s All-American selection and Jordan Brand Classic invitation confirmed her status as a top-tier recruit and marked her arrival on the national stage.
Her decision to attend Syracuse was a significant moment for the program, as she became the highest-rated recruit in school history. That choice reflected her ambition to compete at the highest level of NCAA Division I women’s basketball and laid the foundation for her future success at South Carolina.
Kamilla Cardoso Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
As a freshman at Syracuse in 2020–21, Kamilla Soares Cardoso immediately stepped into the role of starting center for the Orange. She averaged 13.6 points, eight rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, becoming the first player in program history to win the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year award. She shared ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors with Lorela Cubaj and was named first-team All-ACC by the Blue Ribbon Panel.
Following her freshman season, Cardoso made the decision to transfer to the South Carolina Gamecocks, joining one of the most dominant programs in NCAA women’s basketball. This move positioned her alongside elite talent and set the stage for the championship runs that would define her college career.
South Carolina Breakthrough (2021–2024)
In her sophomore season at South Carolina, Cardoso served as a reserve behind standout Aliyah Boston, averaging 5.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Gamecocks won the 2022 national championship, giving Cardoso her first NCAA title. In her junior campaign, she continued to develop off the bench, averaging 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Sixth Woman of the Year and second-team All-SEC.
Cardoso’s senior season in 2023–24 became the defining stretch of her college career. She earned WBCA Coaches’ All-American, Second-team All-American from the Associated Press, and First-team All-American from the U.S. Basketball Writers Association of America (USBWA) honors. She was also named WBCA Defensive Player of the Year, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-SEC, and a member of the SEC All-Defensive Team. On 7 April 2024, she was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 NCAA Tournament after a 15-point, 17-rebound performance in the national championship win. Cardoso graduated shortly after the 2024 WNBA draft, having majored in psychology.
Chicago Sky Era (2024–Present)
Kamilla Soares Cardoso was selected third overall in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. A shoulder injury suffered in her first preseason game caused her to miss the first six games of the 2024 WNBA season, but she made her debut on 1 June, posting 11 points and six rebounds off the bench in 18 minutes in a 70–71 loss to the Indiana Fever. After Elizabeth Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury, Cardoso was slotted into the starting lineup. A re-aggravation of her shoulder injury cut her rookie season short, but she still averaged 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, ranking second in the league in offensive rebounds at 3.0 per contest. She was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team.
In her second WNBA season in 2025, Cardoso appeared in 40 games and started 39. On 24 June, she scored a career-high 27 points in a 97–86 win against the Los Angeles Sparks. She briefly stepped away from the Sky to join Brazil for the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup. Across the season, she averaged 13.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, all career-highs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kamilla Soares Cardoso is known for her elite interior presence, combining strong rebounding with effective rim protection. Her size, shot-blocking instincts, and developing offensive game make her a focal point in the paint for the Chicago Sky, while her international experience continues to refine her court awareness and physical play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cardoso’s career is highlighted by her two NCAA championships with South Carolina in 2022 and 2024, her 2024 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award, and her third overall selection in the 2024 WNBA draft. Her career-high 27-point performance against the Los Angeles Sparks in 2025 underscored her rapid development as a scoring option at the professional level.
Kamilla Cardoso Career Wins
Kamilla Soares Cardoso’s career is decorated with team championships and individual awards across NCAA, WNBA, WCBA, and international play. She has captured two NCAA championships, an AmeriCup gold medal, and a South American Championship gold medal, along with a silver at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
NCAA Highlights
Cardoso won NCAA championships with South Carolina in 2022 and 2024, emerging as a defensive anchor and post scorer. Her 2024 national championship was capped by Most Outstanding Player honors after a 15-point, 17-rebound performance in the final, cementing her status as one of the premier centers in college basketball.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Cardoso led Brazil to gold at the 2022 South American Basketball Championship in Argentina, where she was named MVP after averaging 14.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. She also led Brazil to gold at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, again earning MVP honors. In the WCBA, she was named International Player of the Year for the 2025 season with the Shanghai Swordfish.
Kamilla Cardoso Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Kamilla Soares Cardoso’s immediate family is not publicly confirmed in available sources. She is known to have grown up in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil, before moving to the United States to pursue basketball.
Personal Life
Cardoso majored in psychology at the University of South Carolina, graduating shortly after the 2024 WNBA draft. She continues to split her professional season between the WNBA and overseas competition in the WCBA, representing the Chicago Sky and the Guangdong Vermilion Birds while also serving as a key contributor to the Brazilian national team.
2025 Season Performance
Kamilla Soares Cardoso’s 2025 WNBA season marked a significant step forward in her second year with the Chicago Sky. She appeared in 40 games, starting 39, and produced career-best averages of 13.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Her 27-point outburst against the Los Angeles Sparks on 24 June highlighted her growing offensive confidence and ability to dominate in the paint.
Cardoso briefly left the Sky in late June to represent Brazil at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, where she earned a silver medal and a spot on the all-star team. She led the tournament in efficiency, field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks, ranking fifth in scoring at 14.9 points per game, despite foul trouble in the final against the United States limiting her to 18 minutes. Returning to Chicago, she resumed her role as a central figure in the Sky’s frontcourt and finished the WNBA campaign on a strong note.
Looking ahead, Cardoso’s blend of size, defensive instincts, and expanding offensive game positions her as a long-term building block for the Chicago Sky. With continued international experience and postseason competition at the highest levels, her trajectory points toward All-WNBA recognition in the seasons to come.