A possible starting lineup for South Carolina. Kamilla Cardoso talks Paris experience

——Editor’s note: The State reporter Payton Titus is on site in Paris to bring our readers cover of the Gamecocks’ trip and season-opening game.——

South Carolina held an open practice and participated in a joint Under Armour youth skills clinic with Notre Dame on Saturday at Halle Georges Carpentier Arena, where their season opener will be held Monday in front of a sold-out, 3,500-fan crowd.

The Gamecocks looked sharp, had high energy and shots seemed to fall in their favor more often than not. If Saturday’s practice is any indication, it looks like coach Dawn Staley could go with a starting lineup Monday of guards Te-Hina Paopao, Raven Johnson and Bree Hall along with center Kamilla Cardoso and forward Chloe Kitts.

Paopao, Johnson, Hall and Cardoso seem locked in to start for USC this season, while the final spot is a bit more fluid. Sania Feagin started there in South Carolina’s 100-55 exhibition rout of Rutgers last month.

The highlight of the day, though, was the youth clinic. About 50 French children wore matching pink-and-garnet Under Armor shoes, black shorts and red, white and blue (French flag colors) shirts that read: “UA Next Paris” as the Gamecocks and Fighting Irish cheered them through various fundamental drills. They worked on dribbling, layups and American-turned-international dance crazes such as hip-hop group Cali Swag District’s the Dougie and rapper Lil Uzi’s “Just Wanna Rock” dance.

USC’s Ashlyn Watkins dunked a couple times for the group as well and received raucous cheers.

All the Gamecocks got in on the fun. Even Staley made her way to the outskirts of a dance circle at one point to cheer on the children.

While every player sported a grin throughout, none seemed as into the event as Cardoso. The senior caught up with reporters after the clinic to talk about her experience and her favorite part of the Paris trip so far.

Q&A with Kamilla Cardoso

Question: How enjoyable was this clinic for you?

Kamilla Cardoso: Well, for me, it’s very enjoyable. I love kids. Since I lived in Brazil I always worked with kids. And it’s just so fun. It’s great to be out there and see how happy they are and just help them to improve each and every day. Because at some point in my life I was a kid, and I looked up to other people. So it’s really nice to be out there and be someone that they can look up to.

Q: Do you remember ever participating in a camp like this as a kid, and what does it mean to grow this game internationally?

Cardoso: When I lived in Brazil we didn’t have a lot of camps like this, but I participated in probably like three of them. And it was really good. I always looked up to the older girls from my country, so it was very like inspirational and making me to keep going.

Question: What’s been the highlight of this trip for you?

Cardoso: I think just being here, Paris. We had an Eiffel Tower tour, we went to the (Louvre) museum. But just being the hotel, stayed locked in and hanging out with the team.

South Carolina women’s basketball 2023-24 season opener

Who: No. 6 South Carolina vs. No. 10 Notre Dame

When: Monday, 1 p.m. EST

Where: Halle Georges Carpentier Arena in Paris, France

Watch/Stream: ESPN/ESPN.com/ESPN app