BRNO (Czechia) - Portuguese basketball and the city of Brno will be connected forever after another historical chapter was written in 2025 with a first ever victory at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup.
The landmark was achieved via a second day 75-52 triumph against China and came less than a month after Portugal claimed their maiden FIBA Women's EuroBasket success on debut on the very same court.
Former Kentucky baller and the now TCU bound Clara Silva proved to be the difference-maker as she claimed a stellar double-double.
It feels great. We've been practicing a lot and been excited the whole year for it.
Slated as one of the top prospects to watch in the competition, she living up to her billing and finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. With her 12 field goals in the paint, that catapulted her into the all-time top 10 chart for 2-point baskets made.
Top 10 2-Point Field Goals Made in a game*
Rank | Player (Team) | Opponent | Date | 2-Pts Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tayla Roberts (AUS) | Japan 92-83 | 29/07/2011 | 18 |
2. | 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 |
5. | 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 |
8. | Clara Silva (POR), tied with 11 other players | 12 |
*Dating back to the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 1997
There was also a key cameo from Rita Nazario who chipped in with 13 points. "It feels great. We've been practicing a lot and been excited the whole year for it," declared Silva.
"There is a lot of passion for basketball in Portugal and it is only growing every year and this really good for us."
Some observers had expected the highly-rated center to be elevated to senior action and could potentially have been part of the senior team that beat famously beat Montenegro.
However, any disappointment at missing out has now been tempered by breaking this new ground at the U19 Worlds, with Silva happy that both breakthroughs will combine to support the sport in her homeland.
She said: "I think this [Women's EuroBasket] is for the future. I am just focusing on playing with my own team for this U19 World Cup. "But I do think it was really important for us and they did a really great job. I think that it helps us with how basketball is growing in Portugal and providing many new opportunities."
FIBA