clara silva opened March Madness 2026 by helping TCU cruise to an 86-40 win over UC San Diego on March 20, 2026 at 4: 54 PM ET. The Portuguese post was decisive in the Regional 4 – Sacramento first-round game, producing a big stat line in limited minutes. The result sets up a second-round meeting Sunday against Washington, with TCU listed as the No. 3 seed and Washington as the No. 6 seed.
Clara Silva delivers early impact as TCU rolls
TCU’s opening game in the Sacramento 4 regional ended in a blowout, 86-40, with clara silva standing out immediately. In 19 minutes, she posted 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and four blocked shots, a rapid, high-efficiency performance that helped separate the game early and keep it one-sided.
In the same win, Olivia Miles recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Taylor Bigby scored 27 points, a career high. Marta Suarez added 11 points and 10 rebounds, giving TCU multiple double-doubles alongside clara silva. Erin Condron scored 12 points for UC San Diego and was the lone player for the Tritons to finish in double figures.
The game was played in Fort Worth, Texas. UC San Diego never led, and the Tritons struggled to score, finishing with 15 points in the second half.
Immediate reactions and the next matchup on Sunday
TCU’s next opponent is Washington, with the second-round game scheduled for Sunday. Washington advanced with a 72-?? win over South Dakota State, powered by Avery Howell’s 30 points and nine rebounds, including seven made 3-pointers. Brynn McGaughy added 14 points, and Sayvia Sellers had 10 assists while also contributing to Washington’s 12 steals. Washington forced 18 turnovers that turned into 16 points and held a 40-25 rebounding edge in that game.
For South Dakota State, Brooklyn Meyer scored 29 points on 13-of-20 shooting, and Emily Fox had 14 points while hitting four of the team’s five made 3-point shots.
Quick context: a Portuguese presence across the tournament
Five Portuguese players are set to appear in the final tournament phase: clara silva (TCU), Ruben Prey (St. John’s), Inês Bettencourt (Gonzaga), Filipa Barros (California Baptist), and Ana Pinheiro (Idaho Vandals). On the women’s side, Inês Bettencourt was in action in the first round against Ole Miss, Ana Pinheiro was set to debut the next day, and Filipa Barros was set to play Sunday.
What’s next
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s second-round matchup, where clara silva and TCU will face Washington with a spot deeper in the Sacramento 4 bracket on the line. The immediate question is whether TCU can carry the same defensive control and balanced production into a tougher test against a Washington team coming off a high-energy win built on pressure defense and perimeter scoring.
