Former South Carolina basketball post players A'ja Wilson and Kamilla Cardoso had big days in the WNBA on Sunday.
For Wilson, it was another history-making performance, something that seems to happen every week. In a win on the road against the Phoenix Mercury, Wilson post a ridiculous stat line of 41 points, 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 16-23 shooting. She joined Candace Parker as the only players in WNBA history to post a 40-point, 15-rebound game. The big performance was also the 4th 40-point game of A'ja Wilson's career (and 3rd this season), making her just the 3rd player ever to log four 40-point efforts (joining Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi).
Across the country, fellow Gamecock post player product Kamilla Cardoso had a huge game, too. In a tight game on the road over the Minnesota Lynx, the Brazilian center went off for a career-high in scoring as she poured in 22 points on 7-11 shooting from the floor and an 8-8 effort from the free throw line. Cardoso also added 9 rebounds and 1 assist to the box score.
Wilson will be the WNBA MVP this season, and she deserves it. Wilson will set the league record for scoring in a single season, and she will finish with the 2nd-most rebounds ever in a single year, only eclipsed by what Angel Reese has done on the glass this season. The scariest part for the rest of the league, though, is that A'ja Wilson just turned 28 years old and should have many more years of playing at a high level.
For Cardoso, a spot on the All-Rookie team is very much in play, but she also could make the WNBA All-Defensive team if she continues to be a major deterrent at the rim. She is one-half of the league's best young frontcourt with Angel Reese and should continue to grow into a dominant force in the W.