How playing for Brazil helped shape Kamilla Cardoso for WNBA greatness - ESPN

When 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso enters the WNBA — likely as a top five pick after Monday's draft — she will face a new challenge, in coming up against the world's best players on a regular basis.

Outside the college game with the South Carolina Gamecocks, Cardoso has proven her ability with the Brazil national team under José Neto — including against the college coach who would later help her become one of the most sought-after prospects in women's basketball.

On June 19, 2021, Dawn Staley and Cardoso crossed paths as competitors on the court for the first time. A month and a half earlier, Cardoso had transferred to South Carolina from Syracuse, where she spent her freshman season.

However, on this particular day, Staley and Cardoso were adversaries as Neto's Brazil looked to plot a path past Staley's USA in the FIBA AmeriCup semi-finals.

Ultimately, the USA won 71-60, but Cardoso proved to be undaunted by the occasion — putting in a huge shift on defense. Of her 10 rebounds on the day, eight were defensive rebounds.

According to Neto, it is no accident that Cardoso is entering the WNBA as a player considered ready for a seamless transition from college basketball to the professional game. Rather, her success is a result of young players deliberately being exposed to international camps with Brazil's established WNBA stars.

Neto explained how Cardoso's Brazil career shaped her: «I started as head coach of Brazil in 2019 and Kamilla played with us in 2021. When she played for us for the first time in the AmeriCup when it was played in Puerto Rico. We finished third and lost the semi-finals against the US. This team was coached by Dawn Staley.

»After that, Kamilla went to South Carolina, so I believe that the first