In each of the past two years, a star guard transferred to TCU ahead of their final season. Hailey Van Lith moved on from LSU and joined TCU for the 2024-25 season before heading to the WNBA. After that very season, Olivia Miles decided to forego the WNBA Draft and play another season of college basketball. She also transferred to TCU, giving the team a legitimate star and projected lottery pick.
Miles is thriving at TCU. She just recorded her third consecutive triple-double in a 109-54 win over the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff. Marta Suarez is also in the middle of a career season. She leads TCU in points per game and just recorded her first triple-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. She also recorded one steal and one block.
Both Miles and Suarez are seniors, though, and will leave TCU after this season, but head coach Mark Campbell believes that the program’s next big star is already in his system.
After the team’s latest win, he said, “[Clara] Silva is just scratching the surface of her ceiling. It’s not even close to what she’s going to look like two-and-a-half years from now. You’re going to see one of the best players in college basketball.”
Clara Silva is having a strong sophomore season so far
Clara Silva joined TCU for her second season after a modest freshman season playing for the Kentucky Wildcats. She averaged 4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in just over 12 minutes per game as a freshman.
At TCU, Silva took over a starting role, and her minutes and production increased significantly. The 6’7” center from Portugal is currently averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
Silva already logged two double-doubles, one against NC State and one against Jacksonville. The latter also marked her career high in points with 21 and her most efficient performance yet. She converted all ten of her field-goal attempts.
Silva has showcased her ability to dominate the paint on both ends of the floor since transferring to TCU, and the vision is clear. At 6’7”, Silva could quickly develop into one of the most efficient inside scorers in the country and one of the top rim protectors—and TCU’s next star.
Silva has also already showcased her star potential in international competitions. She was one of the stars at the FIBA U19 World Cup this summer, leading Portugal to its first-ever quarterfinal appearance in any international competition. Silva averaged 23 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.9 blocks over the tournament. Her best game was against Israel when she recorded 37 points on 15-20 shooting, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. She also made history by recording an efficiency valuation of 43.