The former champions, the South Carolina Gamecocks, are surely going to miss their towering 6’7″ center, Kamilla Cardoso. She was a game-changer and a true asset to the team, and losing her to the WNBA is a tough blow. But it looks like head coach Dawn Staley and her crew have been grinding in the gym, honing their skills this offseason, and one improvement stands out. 

Staley shared her thoughts on the team’s development since the end of last season. “Yeah, I think we’re much more unselfish,” she said, noting how the players are doing a better job at finding the right shots for each other. “They’ve logged enough minutes to know what people are really good at, and they’re more apt to make an extra pass than they were last year.” 

MiLaysia Fulwiley chimed in, adding, “We kind of know what we do best individually, so we’ll pass up a good shot for a great shot, and we’ve been doing that a lot.” This positive sign looks good as the team aims to make another run for the title after their famous ‘revenge tour’ on Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Last year, the Gamecocks made their way through the NCAA Tournament and avenged their Final Four loss to Iowa by winning the national championship with an impressive 87-75 victory. Staley couldn’t contain her emotions, especially after finishing the season with a perfect record at 38-0.

With so many players from last season drafted into the WNBA, it seemed impossible they made it happen. But throughout the season, Cordoso was at the forefront, averaging 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks with her height advantage. So, how do the Gamecocks plan to fill the void after their reigning National Defensive Player of the Year? 

Who can replace Kamilla to help Dawn Staley and Co. win another title?

Gamecocks HC has a multi-faceted approach in mind. “We don’t have a dominant big, right? We’ve had a dominant big for the last ten years. Now we don’t,” she explained. Namely, her very first championship came in 2017 with the 6-ft-4 A’ja Wilson in the paint. After the Las Vegas Aces star, it was Aliyah Boston standing at 6-ft-5 who brought another ring to Columbia in 2022. The Indiana Fever center was then replaced by Cardoso, who defended the restricted area with her 6-ft-7 stature. With all of them gone, Staley will rely on a collection of rotation players who each bring different skills. 

To begin with, we have the freshman Joyce Edwards, who has a knack for double-doubles. She averaged 31.3 points and 13.3 rebounds per game as a senior in high school, and the Hall of Famer head coach took notice. “She actually is an aggressive rebounder. I do think she has a little bit of go-get-you-a-bucket, too,” Staley said. Next, we have Sania Feagin, a senior who brings invaluable experience to the team coming off the bench. 

Staley praised her for her growth, saying, “I think (Sania) Feagin has the experience.” Feagin’s been around long enough to know what it takes to win, and her leadership could be the key. Then there’s Chloe Kitts, who’s versatile and can shoot from mid-range to down low. Last year, she averaged 9.1 points per clip on 54% shooting from the field and 50% from beyond the arc with 5.9 rebounds per game.  “Chloe can go get you a bucket in any type of way,” the 54-year-old noted.

For the much-needed height to the roster, Adhel Tac, a redshirt freshman, comes to the rescue. Although standing between 6’5″ and 6’6″, she doesn’t match the Chicago Sky star; she is somewhere close to that. 

All in all, while the Gamecocks will undoubtedly miss Cardoso, they seem well-prepared with a roster full of talent and unselfish play, as Staley and Fulwiley said in the post-practice media interaction. Let’s see how they plan to take their opponents down and keep that championship spirit alive!