“Kamilla Cardoso is the only one paying the price for it”: When Dawn Staley made her feelings clear about South Carolina star’s disqualification

Dawn Staley spoke on Kamilla Cardoso's suspension from South Carolina's undefeated NCAA championship run in the March 20, 2024 episode of the "Dan Patrick Show." The Chicago Sky player was one of the six athletes ejected from the 2024 SEC title game after she shoved LSU Tigers' Flau'jae Johnson to the floor.

While Dawn Staley does not encourage unwarranted contact, the coach expressed that heated moments are part of the competitive games. Nevertheless, she questioned Cardoso's ejection/eventual suspension by pointing at other players involved in the incident.

"And I just thought that they got some things wrong, I do," Staley said (8:44). "Because Kamilla Cardoso is the only one that is really paying the price for it, when there should have been a dark cloud on a couple of other people as well, if we're going to deem what she was disqualified for."

"Because you just can't be disqualified just as a one-woman show. If it's deemed a fight, then the fight is not just with one person, it's with at least another person."

Flau'jae Johnson attempted to push Ashlyn Watkins on her way to the bench after the guard was called for an intentional foul on MiLaysia Fulwiley. While Watkins briefly reacted before moving ahead, Kamilla Cardoso sprinted over and pushed Johnson to the floor.

Alongside Cardoso and Johnson, Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Sakima Walker, Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent were ejected for their participation in the scuffle. Since Cardoso's action was labeled as fighting, she received an automatic suspension for South Carolina's NCAA tourney opener.

Even after the Gamecocks won the SEC championship game (79-72), the ejected players were not allowed to celebrate on the court.

Dawn Staley and South Carolina will face the LSU Tigers this month

Even though the programs will be without their star bigs, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, LSU and South Carolina are set to play on Jan. 23 for one of the highly anticipated games of the season. The Tigers see four returning players from the SEC championship game while the Gamecocks will feature eight, excluding the injured Ashlyn Watkins.

The contest will not be any less than a title game for Dawn Staley's crew as it is part of their toughest stretch of the season. They defeated the No. 2 Texas (67-50) on Saturday and will play four more consecutive games against ranked teams. For the undefeated Tigers (18-0), South Carolina (16-1) will be the third ranked-contest of the season.