South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player after her team's national championship win on Sunday. Cardoso contributed 15 points and 17 rebounds as the secured an 87-75 victory over Despite Hawkeyes guard Caitlin Clark's 30-point performance, South Carolina's coach 's strategic game plan and the team's physical dominance proved decisive. After the game, Staley spoke about her standout player and said: "Kamilla Cardoso was not going to let us lose a game in this Tournament. She played with injury, she played like one of the top picks in the WNBA Draft, and her teammates did something that no other teammates have ever done. They sent her off as a national champion. This is history for us." The 6-foot-7 center showcased her impact on both ends of the floor with crucial plays, including a pivotal drop into the paint during a pick-and-roll scenario, where she executed a late-game block with under three minutes remaining. Following the block, she swiftly transitioned down the floor, positioning herself on the right block, securing an offensive rebound, and scoring, igniting the arena with her relentless effort to win the game. The victory also served as redemption for the Gamecocks, avenging their loss to Iowa in last year's Final Four, their only defeat that year. With this win, the Gamecocks advanced to an impressive record of 109-3 over the past three seasons. South Carolina's win also marked the second consecutive year that Clark fell just short in her quest to win a national championship before heading to the WNBA. Clark and Iowa lost to LSU in the final last year. Before the game, Clark focused intensely, to practice. Reflecting on the game afterward, Clark acknowledged South Carolina's strength, stating: "South Carolina is so good, there's only so much you can do." Cardoso , her first long-range shot, to shock Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semi-finals with a 74-73 victory, saving South Carolina's season. Despite trailing 13-0 in the first quarter and facing a 23-point deficit at one point, the Volunteers staged a frantic comeback, surpassing South Carolina's 14 points in the fourth quarter and displaying explosive offense late with 25 points in the third and fourth quarters. Piling onto the success of 2024, Cardoso was named to the WBCA Coaches All-American team and honored as the defensive player of the year. She received recognition as an AP Second-Team All-American and was selected as a USBWA First-Team All-American. Her defensive abilities earned her the SEC Defensive Player of the Year title and secured her First Team All-SEC honors. Despite the defeat, Clark remains the projected top overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft on April 15, with the Indiana Fever expected to select her. Mock drafts also place , speculating that she could be the third pick by the
Chicago Sky or the fourth pick by the
Los Angeles Sparks.