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SANTIAGO (Chile) – The FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2025 features a highly competitive field that includes the United States, Canada, and more— but anyone looking to hang a gold medal around their neck will first have to go through the defending champions.
Brazil won it all in 2023 in emphatic fashion, ending up with a flawless 7-0 record. The team won 6 of those games by double digits (twice against USA), and only Argentina managed to get them against the ropes in what was eventually a hard-won 56-55 victory.
Veteran power forward Damiris Dantas understands her team has a target on their backs.
“It’s not easy,” said Dantas. “Everybody wants to beat Brazil… We have young players now, so they’re eager to play. The energy is so good. So let’s just have fun now.”
The 34-year-old was a key part of the championship squad in León, Mexico, 2 summers ago and will be called once again to protect the paint.
Damiris Dantas
The competition will be fierce, but she’s ready!
“Being defending champions is not easy,” she said. “We need to work hard every game. We have a good coach, a new coach. We had a conversation today and she talked about the details.”
With a changing of the guard underway, new head coach Pokey Chatman is trying to thread the needle.
While Dantas brings veteran leadership, Kamilla Cardoso—a rising WNBA star and the 2023 AmeriCup MVP—represents Brazil’s future. Both ladies are the clear leaders, but the squad will feature as many as six players making their AmeriCup debut.
Cardoso, who won MVP honors in 2023, has complete faith in her younger teammates.
“I see a bright future for Brazil— as you can see, we have a bunch of new players from the best teams and we’re bringing in young girls,” Cardoso said. “We got an American coach who I’m excited about as well. I think the future for Brazil is bright. We just have to believe in one another, play for one another and keep going hard.”
Kamilla Cardoso
Both Dantas (Indiana Fever) and Cardoso (Chicago Sky) are hoping their WNBA experience will rub off on the rest of the roster.
“Playing in the WNBA is amazing,” Cardoso said. “I’ve been dreaming about it since I was a little kid. Being able to be there and have the experience, then come back here to the AmeriCup and play for Brazil is amazing because I can try to be a leader for these girls. I know a lot of them get inspired by me.”
Dantas, who is already in her 15th year representing the green and yellow jersey, has much to teach.
“I dreamed of playing for my country and now I’m here,” she said. “I’ve been in the WNBA for 9 years and when I come here, I bring everything. It’s the best league in the world, and I play against good players every day, in practice or games.”
Despite her incredible pedigree and wealth of experience, she’s still open to learning new tricks.
She credits her Indiana Fever teammate Caitlin Clark as a new source of inspiration.
“CC is such a good player and person, too. She’s a young player, but she’s so nice and works hard every day,” Dantas said. “She’s the first player in the gym, practicing, making threes, lifting, doing treatment, everything… I love CC!”
The team knows what they’re up against, but both Dantas and Cardoso agreed that the pressure won’t faze them.
“We’ve been here and done that,” said Cardoso. “We have to stay locked in and take it day by day. Take everything seriously and try our best out there.”
Inside look: Brazil x WNBA
In May, Brazil traveled to the United States to test themselves against two of the WNBA’s elite, the Chicago Sky and the Indiana Fever.
FIBA, in collaboration with the Brazilian National Federation, takes you behind the scenes of their journey in USA as they faced tough teams. Take an inside look at locker rooms breakdowns, pregame prayers, campus walks, and huddles filled with belief. More than preparation, this was a promise: Brazil is not done. They’re just getting started.
FIBA
