South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso has apologized for her role in a skirmish with LSU players that resulted in six player ejections during Sunday afternoon’s SEC women’s basketball tournament championship game in Greenville, S.C.
Cardoso, who was ejected from the contest for forcefully shoving LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson to the ground late in the fourth quarter, accepted full responsibility for her actions in a statement posted to social media.
“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game. My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future,” Cardoso wrote Sunday evening on X, formerly Twitter.
Cardoso’s apology echoed the sentiments of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who said that the fracas was “not what we’re about“ in a postgame interview.
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The scuffle began after Johnson elbowed South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, leading to pushing and shoving, and prompting the 6’7” Cardoso to charge in and make contact with the 5’10” Johnson, causing benches to clear. Four Gamecocks players, including Cardoso, and two Tigers players were ejected.
No. 1 South Carolina (32–0) held on to beat No. 8 LSU (28–5). Now both teams await their NCAA tournament assignments, which will be revealed Sunday.
NCAA rules state that any player ejected for fighting will be suspended for the team’s next game, meaning that Cardoso, the Gamecocks’ leading scorer and rebounder, is slated to miss her team’s NCAA tournament opener.
