Gabriela Jaquez won the national championship with UCLA in 2026 before being selected by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Draft. In her rookie season, she averaged 7.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.7 steals per game.
While the Sky failed to qualify for the playoffs in Jaquez’s rookie season, there’s no denying that the young guard established herself as a key part of the franchise.
Following Jaquez’s big year in college and the pros, Sports Illustrated Mexico named her the Sportswoman of the Year. Jaquez, who is of Mexican descent, also represented Mexico in international competitions in the past.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Jaquez expressed her appreciation for the recognition in a social media post on Friday.
“Thanks to Sports Illustrated Mexico for this award, it’s an honor,” Jaquez wrote, along with several photos of herself attending the awards show and holding her trophy.
Several of her Sky teammates and fellow WNBA players celebrated Jaquez’s accomplishment. Among those who commented was Indiana Fever veteran Monique Billings.
Billings showed her love for Jaquez with a simple congratulatory message.
“Congratssss,” Billings wrote.
Jaquez and Billings share a connection, as both played for UCLA in college, although their time with the program did not overlap. The former was part of the Bruins program from 2022 to 2026, while the latter played for the team from 2014 to 2018.
Fever guard Lexie Hull also liked Jaquez’s post, while Washington Mystics star and Jaquez’s former UCLA teammate Lauren Betts called her “an inspiration.”
Sky guard Rachel Banham added, “My Mexican goatttt!!!”
