South Carolina Basketball: Gamecock star named national defensive player of the year

On Wednesday, just before South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley was named the Naismith National Coach of the Year, star post player Kamilla Cardoso was not selected by the Naismith Award Foundation and the Atlanta Tipoff Club as the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, Stanford Cardinal forward Cameron Brink was chosen for the honor.

However, around the same time that the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Award was handed out, another national defensive honor was announced, as well.

The WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) named Kamilla Cardoso their National Defensive Player of the Year.

Cardoso, like Brink, is a deserving recipient of a national defensive award like this one. She was the leading shot blocker in the SEC this year, and her presence in the paint was a big reason why the Gamecocks dominated the post for the majority of the season.

Even while playing in a crowded room of forwards and centers that includes other big-time players like Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin, and Sakima Walker, Cardoso averaged 2.5 blocks per game this season as she led the Gamecocks to an undefeated record and the country's best overall defense.

Cardoso and the Gamecocks are just two wins away from making college basketball history. An undefeated season has only happened 9 times (by just 4 programs), and only 4 programs ever have won 3 national championships, a number South Carolina basketball will match if they bring home another title this weekend.

The Gamecocks are the only women's college basketball program to win two national titles since UConn won four in a row from 2012-2013 to 2015-2016. They were also the favorite to win before the 2019-2020 season was cut short dur to Covid-19, and now, they have the opportunity to win another.

South Carolina will take on the NC State Wolfpack on Friday, April 5th. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM EST in Cleveland, Ohio at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Both Final Four games (UConn vs. Iowa is the other) will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed on the ESPN app.