COLUMBIA, S.C. – Joyce Edwards, a sophomore standout on the South Carolina women’s basketball team, played a pivotal role in helping the United States secure a gold medal at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile. This victory marks Edwards’ third consecutive gold medal in international competitions over the past three years.
The championship matchup saw the U.S. narrowly defeat Brazil, with a final score of 92-84. The Brazilian team featured former Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso and incoming freshman Ayla McDowell, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
A Thrilling Gold Medal Game
The gold medal game proved to be a tightly contested battle from start to finish. The Americans established an early lead, ending the first quarter ahead at 25-22. However, Brazil mounted a comeback in the second quarter, concluding the half with a 47-45 advantage, thanks in part to a dominating 10-0 run, driven by five quick points from Cardoso.
Brazil continued to exert pressure in the third quarter, extending their lead to 56-49 midway through, before the U.S. rallied toward the end, reclaiming a slim lead. Ultimately, Brazil entered the final quarter with a narrow 66-65 lead.
Decisive Moments in the Fourth Quarter
The decisive fourth quarter started with the U.S. taking a 70-69 lead shortly into the period. Edwards made a crucial steal that led to a layup, pushing the lead to three points. With just over six minutes remaining, her layup increased the margin to seven. While Cardoso fought hard for Brazil, scoring important baskets to keep the game close, Edwards secured a pivotal three-point play, giving the U.S. an 83-75 lead with just over four minutes left. She later added another key shot, extending the lead to 10 points as time wound down.
Individual Achievements and Tournament Highlights
Joyce Edwards finished the championship game with an impressive 11 points and seven rebounds, further solidifying her status as an emerging star. This gold medal adds to her extensive collection that already includes a gold medal from the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where she was named MVP, and another from the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup. On the other hand, Cardoso’s contributions have significantly benefited Brazil, earning silver in 2025, gold in 2023, and bronze in 2021 during FIBA AmeriCups, along with a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA South America Championships. McDowell, competing for Brazil, has now earned her first silver medal in this prestigious event.
Tournament Performance Overview
Throughout the tournament, both the U.S. and Brazil demonstrated exceptional prowess by remaining unbeaten in group play. The United States dominated their initial matches, winning by an average of 43 points, while Brazil outperformed their opponents by an average of 28.5 points per game. In their semifinal matches, the U.S. overcame Canada with a 65-53 victory, while Brazil achieved a resounding 108-68 win against Argentina.
Over the course of the tournament, Cardoso finished as the fourth-leading scorer with an average of 14.9 points per game, including 19 points in the championship. She excelled in shooting, boasting a tournament-high 67.8% from the field and recording an impressive 9.9 rebounds per game. Edwards’ statistics included 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game across all seven matches, while McDowell contributed 2.3 points and 1.0 steal per game for Brazil.
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