Gabriela Jaquez is an American female basketball player who ended her senior year at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) by carving her name in NCAA history. The native of Camarillo, California concluded a legendary four-year Bruins career by dominating the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, which saw UCLA defeat South Carolina 79-51 in the first NCAA-era national title in the history of the program.
Jaquez is affectionately known as All-Gas Gabs and is considered to be one of the most well-rounded players in her college generation, a do-it-all forward who can score, rebound, and facilitate at the top level. As the WNBA Draft nears, Gabriela Jaquez is now entering professional basketball as one of the most awarded players in the history of UCLA women basketball.
Gabriela Jaquez Career Overview
Jaquez arrived at UCLA in 2022 from Adolfo Camarillo High School, where she was a standout in both basketball and softball. She and fellow recruit Kiki Rice were named co-MVPs of the McDonald’s All-American Game before their freshman season — signaling immediately that big things were expected.
Over four years in Westwood, she steadily developed into UCLA’s cornerstone player. Her sophomore and junior seasons saw her emerge as a reliable two-way force in the Big Ten, earning second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Her senior season was her finest. She led the Bruins to a 37-1 record, with their sole defeat coming in November against Texas. The team swept through March Madness, culminating in a championship night in Phoenix where Jaquez delivered the performance of her life.
Uniquely, she also joined UCLA’s softball team in 2024, demonstrating her rare multi-sport athleticism.
Gabriela Jaquez Career Stats
2026 NCAA Championship Game:
- Points: 21 (game-high)
- Rebounds: 10
- Assists: 5
- Field Goals: 8-of-14
- Plus/Minus: +34 in 34 minutes
Career Highlights:
- Winningest player in UCLA women’s basketball history: 124 wins
- Second-team All-Big Ten selection (Senior season)
- Four consecutive seasons as a starter at UCLA
- Final season record: 37-1
Gabriela Jaquez Accolades and Achievements
- 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion
- McDonald’s All-American Game co-MVP (High School Senior Year)
- Ventura County Star Basketball Player of the Year (2021–22)
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2025–26)
- Fifth player in NCAA history to record 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a national championship game – joining Sarah Strong, Breanna Stewart, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Dawn Staley
- Third-largest margin of victory in a women’s championship final (28 points)
- Finished as the winningest player in program history (124 victories)
Gabriela Jaquez Personal Life
Born and raised in Camarillo, California, Jaquez comes from a deeply athletic family. Her parents, Angela and Jaime Sr., both played basketball at Concordia University. She is the younger sister of Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who also played at UCLA. Jaime flew directly from a Heat game — where he scored 32 points — to Phoenix just to watch her play in the championship.
Gabriela attended Adolfo Camarillo High School, where she also starred in softball, a sport she continued at UCLA in 2024. She shares a close bond with teammate and roommate Kiki Rice, her best friend throughout their time in Westwood.
Gabriela Jaquez Contracts, Salary, and Net Worth
Gabriela Jaquez is projected to be selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13 in New York City, with projections ranging from a top-10 to No. 12 overall pick. Specific contract figures are not yet confirmed pending her draft selection. Endorsement and sponsorship details are expected to follow her professional debut.
Lesser-Known Facts About Gabriela Jaquez
- She is a two-sport college athlete, competing in both basketball and softball at UCLA
- Her family attended seven consecutive seasons of UCLA basketball across both Jaime Jr.’s and her own career
- South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley personally praised her after the championship loss, calling her “relentless”
- She and Kiki Rice are the only two Bruins to have played all four years together at UCLA
- She is projected as a top-12 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13 in New York City
FAQs
Q: Who is Gabriela Jaquez?
She is a senior basketball player at UCLA, the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Champion, and younger sister of NBA star Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Q: What did Gabriela Jaquez do in the 2026 championship game?
She led all scorers with 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in UCLA’s 79-51 victory over South Carolina.
Q: When is the 2026 WNBA Draft? The draft is scheduled for April 13, 2026, in New York City, where Gabriela Jaquez is projected as a top-12 pick.
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