How former South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso has fared in first month with WNBA's Chicago Sky

COLUMBIA — Exactly one month ago, on June 1, former South Carolina women's basketball center Kamilla Cardoso made her WNBA debut.

Cardoso was selected third overall in the 2024 draft by the Chicago Sky, but a shoulder injury kept her out until June. She's played 11 games for the Sky (6-11), who are coming off a 70-62 loss to the Minnesota Lynx (14-4) on Sunday night.

Here are five highlights for Cardoso in her first month playing in the WNBA, who is averaging 8.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Kamilla Cardoso makes WNBA debut against Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark

It didn't take long for Caitlin Clark and Cardoso to meet again after the 2024 national title game between South Carolina and Iowa. Clark was drafted first overall b the Indiana Fever, playing with Gamecocks record holder Aliyah Boston. South Carolina alum Victaria Saxton, also plays for the Fever.

In her debut, Cardoso finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes in the 71-70 loss to the Fever.

Kamilla Cardoso's first WNBA double-double

In the Sky's second outing against the Fever on June 16, Cardoso snagged her first career double-double. In the 91-83 loss to the Fever, Cardoso had 10 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one block.

First WNBA start for Kamilla Cardoso

On June 8, Cardoso's role of coming off the bench changed. She made her first start in the WNBA after center Elizabeth Williams went down with an injury. Williams will be out the remainder of the season after having surgery on a torn right meniscus.

Cardoso had 13 points and five rebounds in the game against the Atlanta Dream. Cardoso is playing on the Sky with former LSU star Angel Reese; in their first start together, they combined for 26 points and 18 rebounds.

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Kamilla Cardoso notches WNBA career high in points

On June 23, the Sky faced the Fever for a third time in the month after losing the first two games. In her 28 minutes, Cardoso scored a career-high 16 points with 10 rebounds, three assists and one steal. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley's other former player in the game, Boston, had 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Sky won, 88-87.

Kamilla Cardoso grabs 11 rebounds to go with nine points

Just one game before her career high in points, Cardoso had her career high in rebounds, bringing down 11 to go with her nine points in the win over the Dallas Wings on June 20.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin