Kamilla Cardoso set to make WNBA debut vs. Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

No. 3 overall pick Kamilla Cardoso will make her WNBA Debut with the Chicago Sky on Saturday against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, the team announced.

Cardoso missed the Sky’s first six games with a shoulder injury that she sustained during a preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 3. She was expected to miss 4-6 weeks during her recovery and is now set to do battle in a high-profile matchup against Clark and company.

The injury happened in the Sky’s first preseason game of the year, so Cardoso hasn’t been able to see the floor much with her new teammates, including her fellow rookies.

However, it didn’t take long for Chicago Sky first round picks Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso to show off their chemistry. During the Sky’s preseason matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, Reese threw a sneaky dime to a cutting Cardoso for a wide-open layup.

The Sky selected Cardoso with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. The organization drafted Reese only four picks later in the hopes that they spent this year’s draft shaping their front court of the future. The duo battled it out multiple times during their tenures and SC and LSU, respectively.

While this is Cardoso’s WNBA debut, her and Clark faced off against one another less than two months ago during the national championship game between South Carolina and Iowa. The Gamecocks got the better of Clark in both women’s final collegiate game to cut down the nets.

Cardoso finished that game with 15 points and 17 rebounds in the winning effort. That type of performance and experience will fare well in the WNBA as she chases championships as a pro.

Clark scored her regular 30 points during the contest, and eight rebounds and five assists to boot still weren’t enough to overcome the undefeated Gamecocks.

Ultimately, she won two national titles (2022 and ’24) with head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. However, Cardoso began her college basketball career at Syracuse before transferring after one season.

In 33 games during her final season, Cardoso averaged 14.4 points per game, 9.7 rebounds, two assists and shot 59.4 percent from the floor. Over the course of her career, Cardoso averaged 10.6 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and had a 57.5 percent shooting percentage.

Tip-off between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever is scheduled for noon ET and will air live on ESPN.