The third overall pick was surprised with a message from one of her country’s all-time sporting greats
One of the biggest days of Kamilla Cardoso’s life was made even more special by a video message from one of her country’s all-time sporting greats.
The Chicago Sky picked Cardoso third overall in the WNBA Draft on Monday, just a week after the center led the University of South Carolina to a NCAA championship.
In the aftermath of her selection, Cardoso, a Brazil native, was shown a message from Orlando Pride star Marta.
In the message, Marta said: “We are so proud of you, whole Brazil likes watching you and we can’t wait to see you shine again.”
Cardoso grew emotional upon seeing the message, saying: “I’m really happy, I’m a huge fan!”
Marta has been named the FIFA World Player of the Year a record six times, and played in six World Cups with Brazil. Even at 38, she’s still a vital player for the Pride, scoring twice in four matches in the 2024 NWSL season so far.
Marta may have played her final World Cup match, but she doesn’t see that as any reason to stop supporting Brazil or women’s soccer.
A stunning scoreless draw between As Canarinhas and Jamaica, the latest shock result in a tournament full of upsets, has ended the legendary Brazilian attacker’s tournament early.
Brazil entered this tournament as a threat to win the whole thing, which would have been the perfect storybook ending for Marta’s international career.
They started the World Cup off looking the part, capping off a 4-0 win over Panama with a gorgeous team goal that will not likely be matched as the tournament’s best. Next, they fell 2-1 to France in an electric atmosphere. Brazil played well in defeat, but that result meant they would have to beat Jamaica to get out of Group F.
The Reggae Girlz were considered longshots, but a third straight brilliant defensive effort got them the draw needed to advance for the first time ever. Just like that, an icon left the world stage for the last time.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Speaking in a post-game interview, Marta addressed the very mixed situation before her: a heartbreaking early exit, but also a tournament getting more attention than ever before, and a Brazil side that has started to show the benefits of more public support and investment.
“It’s hard to talk about this moment. Not even in my worst nightmares was it the World Cup I dreamed of. But, it’s just the beginning. The Brazilian people are asking for a renewal,” said Marta before gesturing towards her teammates. “There, is a renewal.”
At 37 and on a team packed with attacking talent good enough for any team in this World Cup, Marta had only played 20 minutes in Brazil’s first two games before starting against Jamaica. Up until very recently, that would have been unthinkable, but Marta would be the first to say that it’s because Brazil is getting better.
“I think I’m the only old lady [on this team]. Maybe [Tamires] is next to me,” joked Marta even as tears appeared in her eyes. “Most of them are girls who have a lot of talent who have a huge path ahead of them. It’s just the beginning for them. I’m done here, but they’re still here. And you asked for a renewal, there is a renewal.
“I want people in Brazil to continue to have the same enthusiasm they had when the World Cup started, to continue to support. Because things don’t happen overnight. We’re seeing here teams that came to the World Cup and took seven, eight, 10 [years], and they’re playing just like the big teams. This shows that women’s soccer has been growing. This shows that women’s soccer is a product that gives profit, that gives enjoyment to watch.”
“Keep supporting,” urged the most prolific goalscorer in World Cup history (women’s or men’s). “There is no more World Cup for Marta. I’m very grateful for the opportunity I had to play another World Cup. And I’m very happy with all that has been happening in women’s soccer in Brazil and the world. Keep supporting. Because for them, it’s just the beginning. For me, it’s the end of the line now. Thank you.”
Watch Marta’s emotional speech
"Keep supporting. Because for them it's just the beginning. For me, it's the end of the line now. Thank you."
The legendary player is set for her sixth World Cup this summer
Legendary Brazil attacker Marta has said that the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be her last.
The 2023 tournament will be the sixth World Cup for Marta, who recovered from a torn ACL suffered last year to make Pia Sundhage’s 23-player squad.
Speaking to reporters in Brazil on Monday, the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year said it was “surreal” to be on the verge of playing in her sixth World Cup.
“Yes, it will be my last World Cup,” the 37-year-old said. “We have to understand that a time comes for us to prioritize other things.
“I just have to be thankful to have lived all those years in the national team. To have the opportunity to go to another World Cup, a sixth one, for me is something surreal.”
Marta made her World Cup debut in 2003, and has the record for the most all-time goals in the tournament with 17. The closest she and Brazil have come to lifting the trophy was in 2007, when they lost to Germany in the final.
Following her recovery from the knee injury, Marta has made 11 appearances in the NWSL this season for the Orlando Pride.
After naming her roster last week, Sundhage said she was unsure if Marta would be used as a starter or off the bench at the World Cup.
“Marta is the queen, she is an icon. Just being around her is contagious,” said Sundhage.
“If she will be in the starting lineup I don’t know, not yet. She will play the role I will give her and I am sure she will do well.”
Hines has been retained amid a broader restructuring of the Pride’s soccer operations
The Orlando Pride are turning to a familiar face to help them change their stars.
Seb Hines, who spent most of 2022 leading the club on an interim basis, has been named the club’s head coach after signing a multi-year contract. The move comes amid larger restructuring aimed at lifting a team that has just one playoff appearance in its history.
“Seb is a talented coach that has demonstrated great leadership and an ability to get the most out of his players, while also establishing an inclusive and competitive team culture,” said Pride chairman Mark Wilf in a club statement. “He stepped into a difficult position this year, handling it with professionalism and brought about many positive changes both on and off the field for our club. After evaluating what we want the future for the Pride to be, listening to player feedback and discussing with Seb, it became very clear that he has earned the opportunity to continue leading our club.”
Orlando is coming off of a difficult season, and on the surface, Hines’ 3W-5D-7L record might not seem very impressive. Context is key, though: Orlando started the season with a brand-new coach in Amanda Cromwell, who was suspended by the Pride after just seven games after a recommendation from the NWSL and NWSLPA joint investigation team.
On top of that, Orlando lost Marta — the centerpiece of an attack that was otherwise in stage one of a rebuild — to a torn ACL suffered in their second competitive match of the season. It was a one-two punch that few teams would be expected to overcome.
Speaking with Pro Soccer Wire, Hines said that his path towards putting himself up as a permanent head coaching candidate after the worst game of Orlando’s season, a 6-0 shellacking at the eventual NWSL champion Portland Thorns.
“Obviously, that performance just wasn’t good enough. You know, that wasn’t a reflection of who we were,” said Hines. “After that game, we knew that we had to make changes. We had to implement our ways, and our culture, and our standards and expectations.”
Orlando staffed up, with Giles Barnes and Miguel Gallardo (like Hines, both former Orlando City players) joining Hines’ staff on an interim basis. The changes in mentality and structure paid off immediately, with the Pride going seven straight games without a loss. That streak included wins over two playoffs teams (San Diego and Houston) as well as a road draw against a Kansas City Current side that was in the midst of their own lengthy unbeaten run.
It’s not clear whether Hines will keep the same staff or if further changes are coming. For one thing, Hines has only just gotten the job. The Pride are also undergoing a major restructuring, with the club listing player development, analytics, scouting, and medical services as departments where new hires are coming in the near future. General manager Ian Fleming is no longer with the club due to the restructuring process, leaving an open question about planning the early stages of their offseason.
All of that is to say that how Orlando will look in four or five months is unclear. Hines knows he has to focus on controlling what he can amid a rapidly changing environment, and he wants to start by getting the Pride to be more effective in possession and at the back.
Mark Thor – Courtesy of Orlando Pride
“I played center back so conceding goals was something that I hated,” said Hines. “There’s no hiding places, we conceded way too many goals last year. And that’s an issue, that’s a problem.”
For Hines, the preferred recipe to help Orlando — who gave up 30 goals in 15 games under Hines in 2022 — at the back is to take better care of the ball, dictating the terms by maintaining possession and leaving their defense with fewer fires to put out.
“The league is transitional. It’s survival of the fittest sometimes. You try and prevent that as much as you can, but one way of trying to prevent transition is keeping the ball,” explained Hines, who also noted that specifically for Orlando, possession-oriented play has an added benefit.
“We want to use our home field advantage a lot more. You know, only getting one win at home is not good enough in front of our fans,” Hines said after a season where the Pride went 1W-5D-5L at Exploria Stadium. “We need to start using the heat as best as we can… something that you know other teams don’t have is the humidity, and in Orlando, we must use that.”
Beyond expanding on a game model that had to be improvised, Hines was quick to point out that the Pride should improve organically thanks to some younger players seeing plenty of action in 2022.
“It was a big revamp year for us,” observed Hines on an Orlando side that traded Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris, and Ali Krieger away last December, and then moved Sydney Leroux to Angel City mid-season. “It allowed the young players to get that experience which they may not have got. You’re looking at some really good young, talented players getting really good, significant minutes. So, experience is irreplaceable… it’s something that they can build on. They know what the league is about, they know what the standards are in this league.”
Hines also had some welcome news to boost his squad, as well as the hopes of Pride fans: Marta, that ageless wonder, is ahead of her ACL rehab schedule.
“She’s so driven,” enthused Hines, who said the Brazil captain’s return should have a comparable impact to making a big move in the transfer market. “She’s running, she’s cutting, she’s passing. She’s beyond where she should be at this point in terms of rehab.”
Getting Marta back will add a creative, technical element that was missing from Orlando’s attack all year, but it also adds a world-class professional to the mix for a young group to learn from.
“To have someone who has won every personal accolade that you can think of, she fits everything that we’re talking about,” said Hines. “I’ve seen her over the last four years and just see what she brings to the to the team, she’s first class.”
Hines has seen a lot since coming to Florida to play in MLS with Orlando City: ownership changes, several general managers, and of course numerous coaches with the Pride. With the Wilf family taking a controlling stake in the club in 2021, Hines says he feels there’s a sense of “stability” to come with the forthcoming investment in the club.
“They have a vision, and I’m very grateful that they see me being part of this vision as well, moving forward. So they are fully invested. They want to see success in Orlando, they want to see us lift a trophy… We’re super excited and can’t wait to get started.”
