Kamilla Cardoso had a familiar challenge on Saturday when she stepped foot on the court for her WNBA debut against the Indiana Fever.

After sustaining a shoulder injury in a preseason game, the Chicago Sky draft pick played in her first game on Saturday, which happened to be against former South Carolina teammates Aliyah Boston and Victaria Saxton.

Cardoso also faced Caitlin Clark, who Cardoso most recently played against in the 2024 NCAA national championship when South Carolina women's basketball beat Iowa.

The game was on ESPN. Cardoso checked in the game at the end of the first quarter and finished with 11 points, and six rebounds in 18 minutes. in the 71-70 loss to the Fever.

Cardoso was drafted No. 3 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft, joining the Chicago Sky with Angel Reese from LSU. The two have turned from post players battling in the paint at the college level to teammates in their rookie season in the WNBA.

DRAFT NIGHT: South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso dazzled in red at WNBA Draft, ready for career in Chicago

Cardoso, a 6-foot-7 center had 15 points in the title game against Clark and in her only preseason appearance for the Sky had six points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.

South Carolina Dawn Staley tweeted a message of support for Cardoso on Saturday morning, saying "Know we will be tuned in to see you represent! All of @GamecockWBB and FAMs love and support you! Let’s gooooooo!!"

Staley frequently tweets about various WNBA games, especially the Fever with Boston and Saxton.

With the win, the Fever move to 2-8 on the season and the Sky drop to 3-4.

CARDOSO AND REESE: South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso on Chicago Sky drafting Angel Reese: 'Nobody's going to get no rebounds on us'

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Kamilla Cardoso makes WNBA debut against Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark