REQUIRED READING……..

No. 1 South Carolina is arguably the best team in the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks (32-0, 16-0 in SEC play) are looking to become just the first team to go undefeated since UConn in 2015-16.

And perhaps no player has been more impactful to South Carolina’s success to this point than Kamilla Cardoso. The 6-foot-7 center from Montes Claros, Brazil, is not only among the team’s statistical leaders, but also saved the Gamecocks’ undefeated season with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer vs. Tennessee — the first of her career — in the SEC Women’s Tournament.

But, as has been the case more and more in recent seasons, Cardoso didn’t begin her career at South Carolina. Much like Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith at LSU, the Gamecocks star actually began her career elsewhere before transferring to South Carolina.

REQUIRED READING:Dawn Staley demands apology for CBS’ ‘offensive’ Kamilla Cardoso, March Madness reference

As the Gamecocks aims to win their second title in three seasons under coach Dawn Staley, here’s a look back at Cardoso’s transfer from Syracuse to play for the Gamecocks:

Why did Kamilla Cardoso transfer to South Carolina from Syracuse?

Cardoso originally committed to play for Syracuse, where she holds the distinction of being the Orange’s highest-rated recruit in program history. There she lived up to the billing not only as the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2020-21, but also the ACC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.