Dawn Staley is known for building a powerhouse in South Carolina. But will that continue for the next big NCAA season? After claiming an undefeated season and clinching the national championship, the South Carolina Gamecocks have earned the first spot in the top 25 pre-season polls. With brilliant coaching under Staley, talented players, and a deep bench, South Carolina is well-positioned to defend its title in the coming season. But, as per analyst Missy Heidrick, they might face a challenge on their way to victory. 

Every championship has its own set of obstacles; for South Carolina, it’s their former center, Kamilla Cardoso. As the analyst points out, “The question for South Carolina always is going to be their post-game— they don’t have Kamilla Cordoso in the middle anymore– she is in the WNBA.” For many, her departure to the professional world of the WNBA has sparked serious concerns about how the Gamecocks will manage their paint.

Kamilla Cardoso was a towering 6’7” presence in the restricted area of South Carolina. But that was not all. She was their defensive anchor, averaging 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Her ability to protect the rim and dominate the glass gave the reigning champions a massive edge against even their toughest competition: Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes, who pushed them out of the NCAA tourney in 2022 and gave them a sweat-breaking competition in the 2023 Championship Game.

Cardoso’s shot-blocking and her efficiency on offense (shooting 60% from the field) made her an integral part of the Gamecocks’ championship-winning formula. Her absence means the Dawn Staley-led squad may have difficulty controlling the paint, one of the most crucial aspects of their big win last season. South Carolina boasted third national rank in total rebounds per game with 1,761 (46 rpg) last season while Cardoso led the team in blocks per game. Without her, the team risks losing dominance in second-chance points and rim protection this season, as stated by Missy Heidrick on Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast.

When asked to comment on losing Kamilla Cordoso in an interview, coach Staley said, “Tough, tough, tough. I mean, you lose 6’7″, National Defensive Player of the Year, shot blocker, rebounder, unselfish, and somebody that you have to pretty much double team. I mean, all of our bigs will be single-covered… big, big loss.” But is losing Cardoso going to be as big of a problem?

No Kamilla? No Problem. Young Talents Step Up

While Kamilla Cardoso’s departure creates uncertainty, Dawn Staley’s game philosophy still ensures that the Gamecocks aren’t without answers. They also have MiLaysia Fulwiley, a sophomore guard who the analyst noted, “She (Fulwiley) came in as a freshman a year ago in a fantastic freshman class, and now as a sophomore, she’s got a chance to really set the tone.”

Furthermore, with players like Fulwiley stepping up and Dawn Staley at the helm, the defending champions still have more tools to make another championship run. “Our post group of players are pretty tight, and they’ve improved over the last three or four weeks just off the charts.” said coach Staley. 

She reports a tremendous improvement in several other players in the unit’s frontcourt as well. Chloe Kitts, Sakima Walker, Ashlyn Watkins are all expected to play crucial roles in covering the void left by Cardoso. As per coach Staley, “Sakima looks much better. Feagin is much better. Everybody has really improved… Chloe looks like she’s in midseason form.” Staley also praised Maryam Dauda, who brings a “different dimension” to the team with her versatility and hustle. 

Despite the challenges, the analyst remains confident in South Carolina’s potential, and why not? “Hard to count South Carolina out of the ball game,” Heidrick concludes. So, while the absence of a player like Cardoso is significant, the reigning national champions still have a roster of young but promising players and a coach like Dawn Staley, who has consistently overcome adversity and led her team to success.