"May your preparation be on full display": Dawn Staley pens heartfelt message for Kamilla Cardoso and others ahead of WNBA training camp 2024

Three-time national champion coach Dawn Staley penned a heartfelt message on social media for Kamilla Cardoso and 12 other former South Carolina players who are going to this year's WNBA training camp.

Staley, who guided the Gamecocks to three national titles in 2017, 2022 and 2024, posted the message on X (formerly Twitter), telling her former players Laeticia Amihere, Brea Beal, Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, Alana Coates, Zia Cooke, Kaela Davis, Allisha Gray, Tyasha Harris, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Tiffany Micthell, Victaria Saxton and A'ja Wilson to give everything they've got in practice and other pre-season activities.

She also advised them to listen thoroughly to the instructions of the coaching staff to perfectly execute each play when the real WNBA games begin.

"May your preparation and habits be on full display every practice, weight training, film session, pre and post workout AND your listening skills lead you to executing! Love you all ladies!!," Staley wrote.

The former Gamecocks players are well distributed in eight WNBA teams; Amihere and Gray are playing for the Atlanta Dream, while Beal and Wilson are part of the Las Vegas Aces squad.

Coates and Davis are currently strutting their stuff with the Seattle Storm, while Boston and Saxton are together with the Indiana Fever.

Harris and Mitchell are playing for the Connecticut Sun while Cooke, Herbert Harrigan and Cardoso are signed with the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Chicago Sky, respectively.

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Kamilla Cardoso is excited to start training camp with Chicago Sky

Kamilla Cardoso hugged South Carolina coach Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the NCAA women's basketball final.

Kamilla Cardoso, who was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky, has expressed excitement over her upcoming training camp.

The Brazilian center, who led South Carolina to the national championship by defeating the Caitlin Clark-led Iowa Hawkeyes, continued training after the NCAA season, as she sought to make a big impact in the upcoming WNBA season.

“I’ve been working since we won the championship. Actually, I never stopped. I’m just excited to go (to Chicago) and start training camp,” the 6-7 Cardoso said.

Cardoso, who will kick off her first WNBA training camp with the Chicago Sky on Sunday, April 28, underwent a series of boot camp-style workouts with the South Carolina training staff in preparation for the training camp.

The center knows that she has to step up her game in the WNBA, meaning that she has to improve on her midrange and outside shooting, as the league has adapted to more of a stretch-style offense like its counterpart, the NBA.

"I’m just looking forward to improving my game such as outside shooting, midrange, maybe 3s. Just keep growing," she said.

The Chicago Sky will begin its preseason on May 4 and start their regular season against the Dallas Wings on May 15.

Will Kamilla Cardoso contribute immediately to the Chicago Sky in the WNBA? Let us know your views in the comments section below.