Two Gamecocks make national list of top 25 women’s hoops players
South Carolina Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso and guard Te-Hina Paopao made ESPN’s latest list of the top 25 players in women’s college basketball.
Cardoso was ranked in the No. 12 spot, and Paopao was slotted at No. 25. The rankings are voted on by three ESPN writers and updated throughout the season. In addition to their on-court performances, players’ injury concerns are taken into account.
The 6-foot-7 center’s ESPN entry mentions the two years she spent learning under Aliyah Boston at South Carolina and alludes to the new role she’s had to embrace this season.
“Dawn Staley has instilled in her that she must be consistent and embrace a level of dominance not asked of her so far on the college stage,” ESPN writer Alexa Philippou wrote. “If Cardoso ascends into that sort of player, the Gamecocks will remain favorites to advance to a fourth consecutive Final Four.”
Through two games, Cardoso has scored 32 points (20 vs. Notre Dame), 22 rebounds (15 vs. the Fighting Irish) and six blocks.
Paopao’s section in the ESPN article details her impact on the Gamecocks as a leader, her on-court chemistry with point guard Raven Johnson and her outside shooting ability.
“Even as a newcomer to Staley’s program following three years at Oregon, Paopao has received rave reviews so far for her senior leadership, and her pairing with Raven Johnson in the backcourt could produce the best guard pair Staley has worked with since arriving in Columbia,” Philippou wrote. “Paopao’s shooting — 42.4% on 3-pointers last season in Eugene — will be paramount for the Gamecocks to help alleviate the pressure Cardoso faces inside the paint.”
The top three players on the list, which ESPN released Thursday (after South Carolina’s opener against then-No. 10 Notre Dame but before the home game against Maryland), are Iowa’s Caitlin Clark (No. 1), LSU’s Angel Reese (No. 2) and UConn’s Paige Bueckers (No. 3).
South Carolina had the second-most players on the list of any SEC team, behind only LSU. Other conference players who made the list include Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson (No. 7) and LSU guards Aneesah Morrow (No. 16) and Hailey Van Lith (No. 17).
The Gamecocks play the Tigers on Jan. 25 in Baton Rouge, the Huskies on Feb. 11 in Columbia and the Volunteers twice: on Feb. 15 in Knoxville and on March 3 in Columbia.
