South Carolina sophomore guard Ayla McDowell has earned a place on Brazil’s senior national basketball team, a selection that will see her represent the South American powerhouse in the upcoming South American Qualifier next week.
McDowell’s inclusion comes after a series of international exposures that began with her eligibility through her Brazilian mother. She previously competed for Brazil at the 2024 U18 AmeriCup, the 2025 U19 World Cup and the 2025 senior AmeriCup, accumulating experience that the coaching staff deemed ready for the senior stage.
At the 2025 AmeriCup she shared the court with former Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso, though Cardoso will miss the qualifier because of her commitments in the WNBA. McDowell’s contributions have been notable, averaging 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds at the U18 AmeriCup and earning a spot on the All‑Star Five, while her later appearances at the U19 World Cup and senior AmeriCup showed a scoring average of 16.8 points and a modest 2.3 points respectively.
The Road to the 2027 AmeriCup and 2028 Olympics
The qualifier, scheduled to run from August 3 to 9, pits Brazil against Chile and Venezuela in Group B, with matches set for August 3 and 6. The tournament format includes quarterfinals, semifinals and medal rounds, and all games will be streamed on the FIBA YouTube channel, giving fans worldwide a chance to follow the action.
Beyond McDowell’s debut, the broader basketball landscape features other emerging talents. Junior Joyce Edwards captured a gold medal at the 3X3 World Cup in June as part of the USA Basketball senior team, while sophomores Agot Makeer of Canada and Alicia Tournebize of France have been invited to national‑team camps in Montreal and Paris respectively, underscoring the growing international depth of the sport.