Mexican-American Gabriela Jáquez made history on Monday when she became the fifth woman selected in the WNBA Draft.
Upon being selected by the Chicago Sky, the 22-year-old from Irvine, California, joined her brother Jaime as the first siblings of Mexican descent ever chosen by the two biggest U.S. basketball leagues.
Fresh off winning the U.S. national college championship, Gabriela also helped her university set a new WNBA draft record as five UCLA players were selected in the first round. A sixth Bruin was taken in the second round, setting an additional record for most players from the same school selected in the same draft.
Gabriela averaged 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this past season, while shooting 54% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Her steady improvement during her four years at UCLA and her standout performance in the national championship game (a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds) guaranteed her a high spot in the draft.
As she walked up to the stage after being selected at No. 5 overall, her family in attendance at The Shed at Hudson Yards in New York cheered loudly. Her father, Jaime Jáquez, Sr., held up his smartphone so Jaime Jr. — in Miami preparing for an NBA playoff game — could take in the moment via FaceTime.
Gabriela became just the third player of Mexican descent to be drafted by a WNBA team, joining Evina Westbrook (2022) and Lou López Sénéchal (2023). López Senechal, born to a Mexican father and French mother, is the only one of the three to have been born in Mexico, though she grew up in France after her parents separated.
Gabriela and Jaime will soon become the fifth WNBA/NBA sibling duos, joined by Canadians Olivier-Maxence and Candace Prosper after Candace was selected 19th on Monday night. Olivier-Maxence was chosen 24th in the 2023 NBA Draft, the same night Jaime Jr. — who also starred at UCLA — was selected No. 18 by the Heat.
“I can’t say how proud I am of her. This has been a dream of hers for so long, ever since the third grade.”
Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr. on his sister, Gabriela Jaquez, fulfilling her dream at UCLA 👏 pic.twitter.com/GWvxay8Axp
— espnW (@espnW) April 5, 2026
“I’m really thankful that me and my brother can represent the whole Latino community,” Gabriela told Our Esquina online sports publication. “Obviously being of Mexican descent, it’s just really important for us to share our culture.”
The Jáquez siblings take their heritage to heart, having played for Mexico at the international level. Gabriela made her Mexico debut in August 2024, while Jaime played for Mexico at the 2019 Pan Am Games though he has not committed to playing for Mexico in the long term.
While acknowledging that the records and notoriety are a great tribute, Gabriela preferred to look ahead to the challenges she’ll face in Chicago.
“[I’m] really excited for this new opportunity,” she said. “To play in the WNBA and for the Chicago Sky will be a lot of fun.”
With reports from The Los Angeles Times, Lopez-Doriga.com, ESPN, Our Esquina and Marca
