Siblings Make History: Jaquez Family Now Has 2 Pro Players
Gabriela Jaquez just became the fifth pick in the WNBA Draft, joining her brother Jaime in professional basketball. The UCLA national champion received a heartfelt Instagram message from her Miami Heat brother celebrating their shared success.
Basketball runs deep in the Jaquez family, and now both siblings are living their professional dreams.
The Chicago Sky selected Gabriela Jaquez with the fifth overall pick in Monday's WNBA Draft, making her and her brother Jaime Jaquez Jr. the second set of siblings currently playing professional basketball. Her brother, who plays for the Miami Heat, couldn't attend the draft because he's preparing for Thursday's NBA Play-In Tournament game, but he made sure his sister knew he was celebrating from afar.
"Mama we made it!" Jaime posted on his Instagram Stories, capturing the pride of a family that's turned basketball into their shared calling.
Gabriela earned her spot in the pros by helping UCLA win the national championship just weeks ago. In the title game against South Carolina, she put up 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists in a dominant 79-51 victory that crowned the Bruins as champions.
Her senior season stats tell the story of a complete player ready for the next level. She averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting an impressive 53.9% from the field and 39% from three-point range, proving she can score from anywhere on the court.
The 22-year-old's four years at UCLA earned her spots on the NCAA All-Tournament team, the All-Big Ten team, and the NCAA All-Region team. She's heading to Chicago with a championship pedigree and the work ethic that runs in her family.
Sunny's Take
While Gabriela was hearing her name called in New York, her 25-year-old brother was in Miami having his best NBA season yet. Jaime is averaging career highs of 15.4 points, five rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, mostly coming off the bench to spark the Heat's offense.
The timing means the siblings will celebrate separately for now, but their parallel journeys show what's possible when talent meets dedication. From UCLA to the pros, the Jaquez family is proving that supporting each other's dreams makes those dreams even sweeter when they come true.
Both will take the court this week chasing their own victories, carrying the same last name and the same determination that got them here.
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Based on reporting by Fox News Latest Headlines (all sections)
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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