10/30/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
First time the junior center has garnered the accolade
FORT WORTH – Clara Silva is projected to be among the best at her position heading into her third year.
Silva was one of 20 players selected for the preseason watch list for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award, attributed yearly to the top center in the nation by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The 6-7 junior is the second player in program history to be considered for the award. Former TCU All-American Sedona Prince was tabbed to the preseason watch list in 2023-24 and was a top-five finalist the following year.
Silva was one of three Big 12 centers nominated and is joined by Audi Crooks (Iowa State) and Kate Koval (Baylor).
The honor is the latest set of preseason laurels to come Silva's way. On Thursday, Silva was cited to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year watch list. She additionally was one of 10 players tabbed to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team on Oct. 8.
Silva was one of four players to start all 38 games for TCU last season and averaged nine points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game. Silva was one of only six players to average at least nine points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting better than 55 percent from the field in 2025-26. Silva ranked second in the conference for total blocks (67) and blocks per game (1.8) and logged six double-doubles.
She enters the season as the only returning starter for TCU.
Her 100 career blocks are the 16th-most of any Division I player and fourth-most of all juniors entering the 2026-27 campaign.
In July, Silva was named the Tournament MVP and chosen to the All-Star five with Portugal at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in 2026.
Silva and TCU begin the season at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 vs. Oral Roberts at Schollmaier Arena. The game kicks off a run of seven straight home contests to start the year.
Silva was one of 20 players selected for the preseason watch list for the 2026 Lisa Leslie Award, attributed yearly to the top center in the nation by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The 6-7 junior is the second player in program history to be considered for the award. Former TCU All-American Sedona Prince was tabbed to the preseason watch list in 2023-24 and was a top-five finalist the following year.
Silva was one of three Big 12 centers nominated and is joined by Audi Crooks (Iowa State) and Kate Koval (Baylor).
The honor is the latest set of preseason laurels to come Silva's way. On Thursday, Silva was cited to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year watch list. She additionally was one of 10 players tabbed to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team on Oct. 8.
Silva was one of four players to start all 38 games for TCU last season and averaged nine points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game. Silva was one of only six players to average at least nine points, seven rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting better than 55 percent from the field in 2025-26. Silva ranked second in the conference for total blocks (67) and blocks per game (1.8) and logged six double-doubles.
She enters the season as the only returning starter for TCU.
Her 100 career blocks are the 16th-most of any Division I player and fourth-most of all juniors entering the 2026-27 campaign.
In July, Silva was named the Tournament MVP and chosen to the All-Star five with Portugal at the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in 2026.
Silva and TCU begin the season at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 vs. Oral Roberts at Schollmaier Arena. The game kicks off a run of seven straight home contests to start the year.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballTuesday, October 27
Tuesday, October 27
Thursday, October 22
Tuesday, September 29
