Kamilla Cardoso scouting report: Why Chicago Sky’s young rookie has the potential of a superstar

Early in her career, Kamilla Cardoso is establishing herself as a future star WNBA defensive anchor. Though she hasn’t garnered a similar spotlight as Angel Reese (for better or for worse), Cardoso’s game deserves attention.

She held the foundation of a dynastic South Carolina this past season. At 6-foot-7, few bigs at the college level could match her size, and in the WNBA, part of that looks to be translating.

Kamilla Cardoso Scouting Report

Cardoso’s recent increase in minutes correlates with her defensive success, especially at the basket. Her elite 4.3% block rate places her fifth in the WNBA, only trailing A’ja Wilson, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Brittney Griner. Cardoso’s interior presence alters offensive approaches, even if they are not perfectly consistent at the moment.

Offensive players struggle to shoot over her at the rim as she overwhelms drivers with her height and excellent timing as a shot blocker. Cardoso isn’t a phenomenal vertical athlete, but she doesn’t need explosive leaping to alter shots and keep offenses from scoring efficiently at the rim. She’s a nimble mover for her size, capable of sliding in a straight line to cut off drivers and block shots.

Kamilla Cardoso is not entirely consistent with her defensive impact, which could result from her inconsistent minutes. Her lack of functional strength can limit her post-defense as stronger players move her off spots, and her reaction time in the pick-and-roll isn’t always snappy. Savvy passers can force Cardoso to rotate and cover space, which her developing awareness doesn’t always allow.

Still, Cardoso appears like a foundational defensive piece for Chicago’s future. It’s rare for rookie bigs to flash the high-end defensive moments she can, and her sheer size should provide a baseline of value. Rim protectors exist at a premium in the league, making Cardoso an invaluable defensive piece for the future.

Cardoso's offensive utility limits her ultimate ceiling to some degree, as she has never been a dynamic creator, elite playmaker, or high-volume scorer. Nevertheless, she’s no stranger to the all-important center grunt work, winning with smart passing, screening and play finishing.

Kamilla Cardoso’s efficiency at the rim sits slightly below the league average (53.7%). She’ll continue to adjust to the size and athleticism of the WNBA, honing her finishing angles. Patience in the post could help improve those numbers.

Cardoso’s condor wingspan grants her an enormous catch radius, her deadliest scoring tool. Chicago’s perimeter players can toss passes in her range and trust her to snag them and rise to finish. When Cardoso imposes her size on the interior, even the league’s best defenders struggle to contain her.

Kamilla Cardoso’s passing has pleasantly impressed, complementing her interior play, as she’s a sound playmaker at the five. Cardoso is not a high-volume passer, but her strong decision-making foundation (1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio) and quick processing skills keep the offense moving, especially in high-low situations with Angel Reese.

We’ve seen some flashes of higher-level playmaking, notably Cardoso’s passing to cutters. When defenders pressure her in the post and send doubles, she shows potential in punishing those rotations with passes low to cutters. Cardoso has even flashed some off-dribble passing, foreshadowing exciting potential if she continues progressing as a scorer, further weaponizing her passing.

Kamilla Cardoso's ceiling remains high despite awkward fit with Angel Reese

How will the Chicago Sky best pair Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese? We may see some long-term friction with two non-shooting bigs. Relying on Cardoso as a high-low initiator with Reese in the paint could be a solution, though the offensive ceiling could necessitate more floor spacing. Regardless, it will be fascinating to watch how the Sky prefers to develop and mold Cardoso on both ends of the floor.

She still needs seasoning on both ends of the floor before she solidifies herself as a positive WNBA player night in and night out. Defensive stalwarts at the rim will always carry value, and Cardoso has the potential to anchor a strong Sky defense for the years to come.