Dawn Staley Confident in South Carolina's Adaptability Without WNBA Star Kamilla Cardoso

In the wake of Kamilla Cardoso's successful leap to the WNBA, where she was selected as the third overall pick by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 draft, head coach Dawn Staley has been vocal about how her South Carolina Gamecocks will navigate the current season in her absence. Last year, Cardoso was a central figure in Staley's rotation during the team's remarkable undefeated NCAA championship run, contributing an impressive 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting an astounding 59.4% from the field.

Addressing her team's transition during a press conference on Wednesday, Staley emphasized that the Gamecocks possess the resilience needed to adjust. "It’s a fresh challenge for us this season, but it’s also an opportunity for growth on both ends of the court," Staley stated, touching on the learning curve that comes with finding the right chemistry without Cardoso (4:50). "While we had an incredible synergy with Kamilla, the squad is learning to adapt, and we’re eager to discover how each player can contribute effectively."

Staley pointed out that the Gamecocks are still very much the same formidable team that managed to perform admirably without Cardoso in pivotal matches in the past, including key clashes against UConn and others. "We’re progressing; we’ve improved significantly over the last couple of months. We just have to keep building on our previous experiences and tap back into that level of play," she remarked.

During last season's tournament, Cardoso proved her value by being named the Most Outstanding Player, although she did miss five games—due to injury and international duties with Brazil for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Remarkably, the Gamecocks demonstrated their depth and team-oriented style by winning all five games without her on the court.





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