South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley sent encouragement to her three players competing in tonight’s FIBA Women’s AmeriCup final. The situation shows the reach and success of the Gamecock basketball program under her leadership.
Tonight’s championship clash between the USA and Brazil features three South Carolina players. Joyce Edwards represents Team USA, while former Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso and incoming freshman Ayla McDowell represent defending champions Brazil at 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Dawn Staley’s Social Media Support Highlights Historic Moment
Dawn Staley shared a message on social media: “Have fun, ladies!!! 😊😊😊😊”
This was in response to the official announcement from South Carolina Women’s Basketball:
Have fun ladies!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰 https://t.co/xbFbXRTY0A
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 6, 2025
Tonight’s final represents a rematch of the 2023 championship, where Brazil defeated the United States 69-58, giving the United States a chance to reclaim the title.
Team USA’s Dominant Path Behind Joyce Edwards’ Leadership
Team USA reached the final with a perfect 6-0 record, dominating group-stage play with wins over Chile (108-47), Colombia (80-43), Puerto Rico (80-62), and Mexico (104-48).
They continued their dominance in knockout rounds, defeating the Dominican Republic (110-44) in the quarterfinals and Canada (65-53) in the semifinals.
The team set tournament records with 31 steals and 40 forced turnovers in their quarterfinal win over the Dominican Republic.
Joyce Edwards has been Team USA’s standout performer, averaging 9.7 points per game throughout the tournament. The sophomore forward started all games for the United States, contributing 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Joyce Edwards vs Chile (AmeriCup):
108-47, USA19 PTS
6 REB
1 AST
1 STL
1/1 3PT
7/12 FG— WNBAGamecocks (@WNBAGamecocks) June 29, 2025
Edwards had her best offensive game in the tournament opener against Chile with 19 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting. She has been Team USA’s most consistent scoring threat throughout their perfect 6-0 run to the championship game.
Brazil’s Championship Defense Powered by Kamilla Cardoso
Brazil advanced to defend their title with impressive wins over Argentina, Canada, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico in the quarterfinals, and Argentina again in the semifinals. The defending champions have shown championship composure under pressure throughout their tournament run.
Kamilla Cardoso x Argentina
16 PTS
8 REB
2 AST
2 BLK
1 STL #AmeriCupW pic.twitter.com/6fh0pD78gu— Kamilla Cardoso Brasil 🇧🇷 (@KcardosoBr) July 6, 2025
Former Gamecock star Kamilla Cardoso has been dominant for Brazil, averaging 14.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and a tournament-leading 2.2 blocks per game. Her standout performance came in the quarterfinal against Mexico with 22 points and 16 rebounds on exceptional 75% shooting.
Ayla McDowell represents the program’s future, gaining valuable senior-level international experience despite limited playing time throughout the tournament.
Tonight’s final represents more than just basketball for these three players. Edwards seeks to help the USA reclaim the AmeriCup title that Brazil took from them two years ago, while Cardoso and McDowell aim to defend their championship on home soil.