Chicago Sky selects Camila Cardoso with third overall pick in WNBA Draft | Basketball

The WNBA will have another Brazilian representative. This Monday, the Chicago Sky selected Camila Cardoso with the third overall pick. It is the highest position a Brazilian athlete has ever achieved in major league NBA drafts. The 22-year-old center is 2.01 m tall and has won two collegiate titles. The last trophy came with a double-double in the final a few days ago.

– I had a goal to come here today and provide a better life for my family. “I'm so grateful to have them here with me,” said Camila, who hugged her mother and sister after being selected by the Chicago Sky.

In an interview with ge, before the draft, the Brazilian center said she had already met with three WNBA teams – one of which was the Chicago Sky. Interest increased after he earned his second title at the University of South Carolina.

In the first win of 2020, Camilla was a reserve and won the Southeastern Conference Sixth Player of the Year award. In the second title, in 2024, he was key in South Carolina's unbeaten campaign (38 wins). Despite a knee injury, he scored 15 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the big decision, earning praise from Magic Johnson and best-on-court honors at the Final Four.

Over the course of last season, Camila averaged over 14 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game. He still makes about 60% shooting from the field, in addition to making a large number of saves.

For the Brazilian national team, the pivot also has many achievements. So far, there has been a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA ​​South American Championship, another at the 2023 AmeriCup, and a bronze at the 2021 AmeriCup. And there is a project to compete in a version of the Olympics – which has been postponed to 2028. Brazil out of Paris 2024.

Born in Montes Claros (MG), Camila showed a tremendous desire to succeed in the sport when she moved to the United States when she was just 14 years old, without speaking English, leaving her family in Brazil. He went on to play in high school, All-American High School, already looking at college basketball and the WNBA. The objectives have now been duly achieved.

Camila will be the 15th Brazilian to compete in the WNBA. Before that, Leila Sobral (Washington Mystics), Alessandra (Washington Mystics, Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm), Kelly Santos (Detroit Shock and Seattle Storm), Claudia das Nieves (Detroit Shock and Miami Soul), Adriana (Phoenix Mercury) arrived in the league. , Helen Luz (Washington Mystics), Clarissa dos Santos (Chicago Sky), Cynthia dos Santos (Orlando Miracle), Erika de Souza (Los Angeles Sparks, Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky and Connecticut Sun), Damiris Dantas (Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever), Janeth Arkin (Houston Comets), Nadia Calhado (Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever), Isiani Castro (Miami Soul and Phoenix Mercury), and Stephanie Soares (Dallas Wings).

Other WNBA Draft Picks

The 2024 class is considered by many to be the best in WNBA Draft history. And Kaitlyn Clark, as expected, was selected by the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick. The point guard, who played for Iowa State, collected college basketball records and became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I history, among men and women.

With the seventh pick, the Chicago Sky selected Angel Reese. The 21-year-old emerged as a top rival for Camila Cardoso in college basketball, but the two will now be teammates in the WNBA.

-I've been dating Camila since high school. “I'm excited to play alongside her,” Angel said, shortly after learning she was going to Chicago.

Check out the picks announced in the draft so far:

1. Caitlin Clark (Iowa State) – Indiana Fever
2. Cameron Brink (Stanford) – Los Angeles Sparks
3. Camila Cardoso (South Carolina) – Chicago Sky
4. Rekia Jackson (Tenn.) – Los Angeles Sparks
5. Jesse Sheldon (Ohio State) – Dallas Wings
6. Aaliyah Edwards (UConn) – Washington Mystics
7. Angel Reyes (LSU) – Chicago Sky
8. Alyssa Bailey (Utah) – Minnesota Lynx