COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso was picked third in the WNBA draft on Monday night by Chicago Sky.

Monday night’s draft was one of the one of the most-anticipated drafts in recent memory, with players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink participating.

Kamilla Cardoso ― the Brazilian center who has been with the USC Women’s Basketball team since 2021 ― declared for the WNBA draft earlier this month. She was one of the top lottery picks in ESPN’s mock draft.

“I had a goal to be here tonight and give my family a better life,” she said at the draft.

Chicago Sky’s new head coach is star former WNBA player Teresa Witherspoon. The team won the WNBA championship in 2021.

“Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey so far,” Cardoso’s Instagram post earlier this month said. “I am excited for what the future holds, and I cant wait to see where this next chapter takes me.”

The draft is taking place at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York.

To leave a farewell note to the Gamecocks legend click below:

Leaving in style! A look into Kamilla Cardoso’s run at USC

On Sunday, Gamecocks Kamilla Cardoso celebrated winning her second national championship with a parade that also served as a sound sendoff as she begins her professional career.

Rated a five-star recruit and the number five player in her class by ESPN, she committed to playing college basketball for Syracuse: their highest-ever recruit at the time.

As a freshman at Syracuse, Cardoso was the team’s starting center and averaged 13.6 points, eight rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Cardoso’s impressive freshman year helped her become the first player in the program’s history to win the ACC Freshman of the Year award.

Headed South

After a successful freshman year, Cardoso made a big change: moving south to play for legendary coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. Since the Gamecocks already had a star center in Aaliyah Boston, Cardoso sacrificed playing time and a starting spot to play with the Gamecocks.

While she didn’t have as much playtime compared to her freshman season at Syracuse, Cardoso maintained a solid role with the team. She ended her sophomore season averaging solid numbers coming off the bench as the team won their second championship.

In her junior season, Cardoso averaged 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game off the bench. She was named Southeastern Conference (SEC) Sixth Woman of the Year and second-team All-SEC. After a disappointing loss at the hands of basketball star Caitlin Clark, Cardoso was given the keys to the team in her last season with the Gamecocks.

Most Outstanding Season

After Aaliyah Boston was drafted #1 overall to the Indiana Fever, Cardoso stepped in and dominated. The star ended the season averaging 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks in her first and last season starting for the Gamecocks.

One of the biggest highlights of the season and her young career happened in the SEC Semifinals against Tennessee. Down two with a second left on the clock, Cardoso banked in a three at the buzzer to beat the Lady Vols 74-73. The game-winning three was also her first-ever make from deep.

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