BRNO (Czechia) - Star baller Clara Silva was the architect of Portugal's first ever Quarter-Finals ticket in their history at any FIBA global event for women or men and at either youth or senior level, on what proved to be a memorable day in Brno.
Already one of the top performers at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025, the center chose a good time to bring out her best with an extraordinary display in a thrilling 83-80 Round of 16 success against Israel.
At the end it was the craziest and most scary moment of my life
Looking virtually unguardable throughout the game, Silva finished the historic victory with a performance efficiency valuation of 43 - the joint third highest ever at the U19 Worlds.
That was harvested from a 15 of 20 shooting effort that returned 37 points - the highest tally of any European in the competition since Danira Nakic of Yugoslavia in 1989.
Silva's 15 made field goals was also the second highest in FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup history and also second most 2-point baskets made. She also made it a double-double with 10 rebounds - as well as adding 2 assists, 2 steals and a block.
Ema Karim and Rita Nazario provided outstanding support for their marquee star, with the former netting 18 points on 6 three-pointers and Nazario weighing in with 14 points and 8 assists.
After the game, Silva admitted it was a nail-biting and roller-coaster experience and stated: "At the end it was the craziest and most scary moment of my life. But we never gave up and played the full 40 minutes.
"I am so happy because this team is so special to me - we are like a family. I think we showed this on the court."
As for her own stunning accomplishments, Silva was quick to give credit to her colleagues. She insisted: "I know what I am capable of and my team knows, so I think all of us just did our job. I also have to thank my team because they passed me the ball."
They might have made more history and it will certainly enjoy this famous win - but could they really go at least one step further? "Of course, we are going to work for that and it's now our goal," smiled Silva.
Top 10 Efficiency rating in a U19 WWC game
Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Date | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Danira Nakic (YUG) | Soviet Union 93-109 | 30/07/1989 | 46 |
2. | Maria Vadeeva (RUS) | Egypt 94-37 | 22/07/2015 | 45 |
3. | Clara Silva (POR) | Israel 83-80 | 16/07/2025 | 43 |
| Meiling Zeng (CHN) | Lithuania 67-48 | 26/07/2007 | 43 |
| Tayla Roberts (AUS) | Japan 92-83 | 29/07/2011 | 43 |
6. | Maria Vadeeva (RUS) | Mali 90-66 | 26/07/2017 | 42 |
| Raisa Musina (RUS) | USA 86-82 | 30/07/2017 | 42 |
| Maiara Pereira (BRA) | Korea 74-80 | 10/08/2021 | 42 |
| Jana Elalfy (EGY) | Chinese Taipei 83-79 | 21/07/2023 | 42 |
10. | Erika De Souza (BRA) | Lithuania 79-74 | 19/07/2001 | 41 |
| Dragana Gobeljic (SRB) | Japan 103-89 | 28/07/2007 | 41 |
Top 10 points scored in a U19 WWC game
Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Date | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Danira Nakic (YUG) | Soviet Union 93-109 | 30/07/1989 | 46 |
2. | Ajeong Kang (KOR) | Lithuania 93-81 | 31/07/2007 | 41 |
| Tayla Roberts (AUS) | Japan 92-83 | 29/07/2011 | 41 |
4. | Elizabeth Cambage (AUS) | France 66-57 | 24/07/2009 | 38 |
| Jana Elalfy (EGY) | Chinese Taipei 83-79 | 21/07/2023 | 38 |
6. | Clara Silva (POR) | Israel 83-80 | 16/07/2025 | 37 |
| Danira Nakic (YUG) | Cuba 105-90 | 23/07/1989 | 37 |
| Yuko Oga (JPN) | Mali 83-42 | 22/07/2001 | 37 |
9. | Bojana Milosevic (YUG) | Soviet Union 76-78 | 19/08/1985 | 36 |
| Leila Lacan (FRA) | Japan 80-78 | 21/07/2023 | 36 |
11. | Gal Raviv (ISR) | Hungary 82-86 | 12/7/2025 | 35 |
Top 10 field-goals made in a U19 WWC game*
Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Date | FG Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tayla Roberts (AUS) | Japan 92-83 | 29/07/2011 | 18 |
2. | Clara Silva (POR) | Israel 83-80 | 16/07/2025 | 15 |
| Hamchetou Maiga Ba (MLI) | Japan 60-58 | 12/07/1997 | 14 |
| Elizabeth Cambage (AUS) | France 66-57 | 24/07/2009 | 14 |
| Jamie Weisner (CAN) | Netherlands 69-67 | 19/07/2013 | 14 |
| Maiara Pereira (BRA) | Korea 74-80 | 10/08/2021 | 14 |
7. | Iveta Salkauske (LTU) | USA 71-89 | 14/07/2001 | 13 |
| Alba Torrens (ESP) | China 88-59 | 30/07/2007 | 13 |
| Laima Rickeviciute (LTU) | Brazil 64-77 | 03/08/2007 | 13 |
| Ezi Magbegor (AUS) | China 70-64 | 29/07/2017 | 13 |
| Yuliany Paz (COL) | Japan 58-69 | 23/07/2019 | 13 |
| Leila Lacan (FRA) | Japan 80-78 | 21/07/2023 | 13 |
Top 10 two-point field-goals made in a U19 WWC game*
Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Date | 2-Pts Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tayla Roberts (AUS) | Japan 92-83 | 29/07/2011 | 18 |
2. | Clara Silva (POR) | Israel 83-80 | 16/07/2025 | 15 |
3. | Hamchetou Maiga Ba (MLI) | Japan 60-58 | 12/07/1997 | 14 |
| Elizabeth Cambage (AUS) | France 66-57 | 24/07/2009 | 14 |
| Maiara Pereira (BRA) | Korea 74-80 | 10/08/2021 | 14 |
6. | Jamie Weisner (CAN) | Netherlands 69-67 | 19/07/2013 | 13 |
| Ezi Magbegor (AUS) | China 70-64 | 29/07/2017 | 13 |
| Yuliany Paz (COL) | Japan 58-69 | 23/07/2019 | 13 |
9. | 12 players |
|
| 12 |
*Dating back to the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 1997
FIBA