Chicago Sky Star Gets Big Opportunity Beyond WNBA

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 7:13 PM ET

Former Syracuse Orange and South Carolina Gamecocks star Kamilla Cardoso was an absolute force for the Chicago Sky in her second WNBA season. The 24-year-old averaged 13.6 points on 52.8% shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 blocks in 27.6 minutes per game as Chicago’s starting center, firmly establishing herself as a key player in head coach Tyler Marsh’s rotation.

It was another forgettable campaign for the Sky, who finished second-to-last in the league with a 10-34 record. However, there’s no denying that Cardoso was able to elevate her game as a sophomore and make her mark as one of the top young centers in the WNBA.

Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) reacts during the first half of a basketball game against the Seattle Storm.Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Apart from being a pivotal part of the Sky’s core, Cardoso has also been representing her native Brazil at the international level. This past season, the 6-foot-7 center temporarily left Chicago to take part in the FIBA AmeriCup tournament in Santiago, Chile, from June 28 to July 6.

Cardoso, a two-time NCAA champion with South Carolina, was dominant in the AmeriCup. She averaged 14.9 points on 67.8% shooting, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 blocks, en route to being selected to the tournament’s All-Star 5 alongside Brazil teammate Damiris Dantas of the Indiana Fever.

On Wednesday, amid the WNBA offseason, Cardoso received some important news from the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB) ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany. Cardoso has been called up by the national team for preparations for the much-awaited tournament, held every four years.

Cardoso has been named as one of the 18 players who will take part in the first stage of training for the World Cup. The training camp will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from Nov. 11 to 18.

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Cardoso’s strong play in the AmeriCup helped lead Brazil to a 6-1 record. They went undefeated throughout the tournament until the Final, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the United States, 92-84.

Brazil had to settle for a silver medal after falling to the Americans, and they will now want to make amends in next year's World Cup.

However, Brazil will need to qualify for the World Cup first, which they can do if they are among the 16 teams to secure their spot via the qualifying tournament. Brazil has been grouped with Mali, South Sundan, the Czech Republic, Belgium and China. They will compete in the qualifying tournament in March at Wuhan, China.

There are still five months before the qualifying tournament, and the World Cup is still more than a year away. However, as with the other national squads hoping to find success at the grandest of stages, Brazil is already beginning its preparations as it looks to bring home its second gold after first winning the World Cup in 1994.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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