Gabriela Jaquez shines at the FIBA World Cup
UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez had a phenomenal performance for the Mexican national team at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Big Game Gabs did it all last night! 🇲🇽🔥
She had 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and a block in Mexico’s 71-64 win over the Kiwis! Mexico is 2-0, secures a spot in the semifinals and closes out the group stage tonight against Montenegro.#GoBruins | 📸: eSports pic.twitter.com/7T9Trp0fJu
— UCLA Women’s Basketball (@UCLAWBB) 22 August 2024
On Thursday, she scored 22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and a block to help Mexico beat New Zealand 71-64.
Mexico is fighting to qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2026. The group secured its place in the semifinals after defeating New Zealand.
Jaquez also contributed 26 points and 8 rebounds in Mexico’s 74-71 loss to Montenegro. The tournament will be held at the historic Gimansio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera in Mexico.
Jaquez is considered a Bruins darling and a rising star at Pauley Pavilion. Last season, she averaged 10 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for UCLA.
She’s also a multi-sport athlete. The rising junior joined the UCLA softball team in May as a reserve runner.
She helped the Bruins add speed and depth to their lineup for the NCAA Tournament. Jaquez hadn’t played softball since her senior year at Camarillo High.
The move to softball was the second time in three months that Jaquez made it deep into the playoffs.
Although she played a smaller role on the softball team, Jaquez took pride in helping the Blue and Gold in any way she could.
“When I’m not on the field, I know I can do my best on the bench,” Jaquez told Thuc Nhi Nguyen of the Los Angeles Times. “I just have to be a good teammate and support him.”
The UCLA forward was keen to join the softball team.
“Just having the opportunity to play basketball and softball is truly a dream come true,” Jaquez continued.
Kelly Inouye-Perez, head softball coach at UCLA, was looking for backup runners after several players were hampered by injuries throughout the season, and Jaquez turned out to be the answer.
“For a superstar like Gabs to be able to come into a program like ours and fit in seamlessly, it shows me that she’s not an ego person,” Inouye-Perez said. “It’s not about her, it’s nothing other than her just wanting to help UCLA softball.”
Jaquez fit in well with UCLA’s softball team, and her humble approach to the sport is a testament to her character.
After representing Mexico at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, there is no telling what will happen next for the star forward.
