Cowgirl For Life

Being a basketball player entails a roller coaster of emotions. It can bring you up, when all the shots are falling and everything is going your way. However, when nothing can drop and the season is falling out of reach, those highs are quickly outweighed by the lows.

Factor in morning workouts, class and practice for college basketball players, and the season can become a grind. It tests you in ways you never thought, with both mentally and physically draining days in the long season of a Division I athlete.

For Brisa Silva, she understands the roller coaster ride all too well.

Born in Sinaloa, Mexico, Silva moved to Los Angeles and showcased her talents at Garfield High School. During her time as a Bulldog, Silva notched two first-team all-league selections and a second-team all-state accolade. She led her team in scoring averaging 27.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game her senior year.

Coming out of high school, Silva committed to Central Arizona College. Her sophomore year with the Vaqueros, Silva starred on the way to winning the NJCAA national championship, leading her team with 23 points in the title game against Southern Idaho. After earning third team NJCAA All-American and first-team all-conference honors, Silva transferred to Oklahoma State.

After being recruited by the late Cowgirl recruiting coach Miranda Serna, who tragically passed away on Nov. 17, 2011 in an airplane crash, Silva was brought to OSU in Kurt Budke's first season in charge. Budke also tragically passed away in that same accident.

In Budke's first season in charge, the 2005-06 season, the Cowgirls went 6-22 and 0-16 in conference play. Silva played in all 28 games, starting in 19 and averaging 7.6 points per game.

In 2006, Silva had her jersey retired at Garfield High School after holding the record for most points in a game for over three years at that point, with 44 points against Fairfax High School.

It helped soften what was a rough season for OSU, going winless in Big 12 play.

The following season, 2006-07, could not have gone more differently for the Cowgirl Basketball team.

During her senior year, OSU went 20-11 and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996, with Silva playing in 28 games that season. It was a program-altering season for the Cowgirls as many called it the nation's largest turnaround.

"It was awesome, I loved it," Silva said. "It's a different feeling, all the hard work we put in helped us to change the program."

That turnaround was something Silva had never experienced before, but it left her with a great sense of pride when she overcame that adversity. Making the NCAA Tournament is an unforgettable moment and a great milestone for any Division I college basketball player.

"Well, one of my favorite moments at OSU was when we went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time," Silva said. "Being there was a great accomplishment for my career."

Following college, Silva played for the Mexican national team in 2006 throughout her career until 2018. She started WNBA training camp with the WNBA Sparks in 2008, which kickstarted a professional career that has spanned over 14 years so far. She attributes the lengthy career to the discipline she has, and the passion she has for the sport of basketball.

Her highlights from her established career, "being at the WNBA training camp with Los Angeles Sparks," Silva proudly says. "Winning a silver medal at the Pan-Americans games with the Mexican National Team, scoring 63 points in Dubai, winning championships with different teams."

Without OSU though, Silva wouldn't have learned how to come through similar adversities faced during her professional career. She learned how to battle back when the shots aren't falling, and when everything isn't going your way.

"It helped me a lot being dedicated, being disciplined, and working hard," Silva said. "Those three things at OSU prepared me for the next level."

"It's an honor for me to be a part of this OSU organization," Silva happily claimed. "I'm happy to be a Cowgirl for life."

She went through one of the most transformative periods in OSU women's basketball history and has shown that she can battle through anything. With a decorated collegiate career and an outstanding professional career, Silva embodies the Cowgirl Culture and is a true Cowgirl for life.

Silva's Professional Career
2008 Portugal
2009 Africa Elephants Girls
2009 Dubai Alshabah Club
2010 Germany
2012 Brazil Maranhao Club
2012 Baniyas Club Abu Dhabi
2013 Switzerland Esperance Pully Club
2014 Mexico Águilas de Tabasco,
2014 Jordania Al Fahis Aman Club
2015 Mexico Marineras de Puerto Vallarta
2016 Iran Bandar Abbas Club
2017 Mexico Club Titanes de Los Mochis
2018 Mexico Manzaneras de Cuauhtémoc
2019 Mexico Mieleras de Guanajuato
2021 Mieleras de Guanajuato
2021 Manzaneras de Cuauhtémoc
2022 Mexico Mieleras de Guanajuato
2023 Mexico LNBPF Astros

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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