Kamilla Soares Cardoso, born on April 30, 2001, in Montes Claros, Brazil, is a professional basketball player known for her impressive career in both collegiate and professional arenas. At 15, she moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to attend Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, where she averaged 24.1 points, 15.8 rebounds, and 9.2 blocks per game in her senior year. Her outstanding performance earned her McDonald’s All-American honors and recognition as a top recruit.
Cardoso began her collegiate career at Syracuse University in the 2020-2021 season, achieving averages of 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. She made history as the first player in the program to receive ACC Freshman of the Year honors and was also named ACC co-Defensive Player of the Year. Following her freshman year, she transferred to the University of South Carolina. During her tenure, she contributed to two NCAA National Championships in 2022 and 2024. In her senior year, she averaged 14.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, earning First-Team All-American honors and being named the WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year.
In the 2024 WNBA Draft, Cardoso was selected third overall by the Chicago Sky. Despite an early shoulder injury, she made a notable impact in her rookie season, averaging 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. She also played for the Shanghai Swordfish in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association during the 2024–2025 season.
Internationally, Cardoso has been a vital member of the Brazilian national team. She led Brazil to a gold medal at the 2022 South American Basketball Championship, earning MVP honors, and was named MVP at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup after another gold medal victory.
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