Kamilla Cardoso named AmeriCup MVP as Gamecocks take home gold and silver medals
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Gamecocks took home gold and silver medals at the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup Tournament, with Kamilla Cardoso earning MVP honors for leading Brazil to the gold medal.
Cardoso had 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three steals in Brazil’s 69-58 win over Team USA in the gold medal game. Cardoso, who was also the MVP of the South America Championship last year, averaged 10.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.0 steals for the tournament.
The United States led by two at halftime, but Cardoso had six points and five rebounds during a 10-2 Brazil run to open the third quarter. Brazil was able to stymie the Americans every time they tried to make a run and led by double figures for much of the second half.
Johnson started all seven games for the United States and averaged 5.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.
Brazil won the AmeriCup Tournament for a record sixth time. The United States entered the tournament as back-to-back champions, looking to tie Brazil for the most wins with five each. But Brazil handed the Americans their first loss since 2017 during group play and then defended that win in the gold medal game.
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The AmeriCup Tournament is one of the qualifying tournaments for the World Cup and the Olympics. However, the Americans have already qualified for the Olympics by virtue of winning the previous World Cup so they don’t send their senior national team to the AmeriCup. Other countries do send their senior team, or parts of it minus players in the WNBA.
The United States’ inexperience was evident against Brazil. The Brazilians were an international power but had slipped in recent years. But they had most of their senior team intact, a group that has played together for several years (Cardoso was on the Brazilian team that won bronze at the 2021 AmeriCup), and they were able to get the shots they wanted while the Americans often looked unsure what to do.
Canada beat Puerto Rico for the bronze medal. Shay Colley, who played one semester at South Carolina, was on the Canadian team.
International competition resumes next weekend in Spain with the FIBA U19 World Cup. Gamecock Chloe Kitts is on the Team USA roster along with Camden’s Joyce Edwards, a South Carolina target.
