Image Credit: Alexandra Campos/Latino Sports
BROOKLYN, NY — Chicago Sky rookie Gabriela Jaquez accomplished what she envisioned for herself as a little girl growing up in Southern California. Now, just a few months removed from helping UCLA capture its first NCAA women’s basketball national championship and hearing her name called with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, the 22-year-old Mexican-American guard is living out the dream she spent years chasing.
Before the Sky’s matchup against the New York Liberty Wednesday night at Barclays Center, Jaquez reflected on the path that carried her from pick up games with her brothers to the WNBA.
“I think little me would be super proud of where I am now and for all I’ve accomplished,” Jaquez told Latino Sports in a one-on-one interview. “When I set my mind to something, I go and accomplish it, and I go fight for it and work really hard to get it. I don’t think she’d really be surprised, but she’d be really, really proud.”
Her journey has been shaped by a supportive family where basketball was more than a game. Both of her parents, Jaime Jaquez Sr. and Angela Jaquez, played collegiate basketball at Concordia University, creating a competitive environment that challenged each of their three children by learning about discipline and going through hard work at early ages.
Her older brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., formerly of the Miami Heat and now with the Milwaukee Bucks, became a UCLA All-American before reaching the NBA and representing Mexico internationally, while the youngest Marcos also grew up competing in multiple sports.
As the only girl in the family, Gabriela learned early that nothing would come easily.
“Me being the only girl and having two brothers, I feel like I had to work even harder to be competitive and to win some things,” she said. “We were always competing. We’d play one-on-one basketball games across the street at the park, and that’s what made things fun.”
While basketball eventually became her future career, it wasn’t always her only focus. Jaquez excelled as both a basketball and softball player, even competing in both sports during her time at UCLA as a Bruin.
She credits that experience with making her a more complete athlete.
“It’s super important at a young age to play as many sports as you can,” Jaquez said of being a dual athlete. “There’s no need to pick one sport too early. Softball helped with my overhand passing, and it translates to basketball. It gives your mind a rest, works different muscles, and lets you spend time with different teammates and coaches.”
Her message echoes a growing movement among coaches and athletes who encourage young players to delay specialization, believing that playing multiple sports helps build stronger, healthier and more versatile competitors.
Jaquez’s rise also comes during a time of unprecedented growth for Latina athletes. NCAA participation among Hispanic and Latino student-athletes has climbed dramatically over the past decade, while more women of Latino heritage are making their mark across the WNBA, professional soccer, softball and boxing. Trailblazers such as Diana Taurasi, Amanda Serrano, Lisa Fernández and Jessica Mendoza helped pave the way for today’s generation, creating greater visibility for young girls searching for role models who share their backgrounds.
For Mexican-American athletes, that visibility carries added significance. Jaquez has embraced representing her heritage on one of basketball’s biggest stages, becoming part of a new generation proving that Latinas belong at every level of professional sports.
As women’s sports continue to grow in popularity and investment, players like Jaquez are helping redefine what representation looks like. Every nationally televised game, every community appearance and every interview creates another opportunity for a young girl to see herself reflected on the court.
As Latino Sports asked one lighter question about life on the road, Jaquez laughed when discussing one thing she still hasn’t found outside of California.
“I still need to check out the Mexican food in Chicago,” she noted. “But nothing really can compare to the California Mexican food that I have. I’m just so used to it.”
For Jaquez, home will always hold a special place. But her impact is already extending far beyond California, inspiring a new generation of Latina athletes to dream bigger, compete harder and believe there is a place for them on the biggest stages in sports.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
