Sister triumphs on college basketball's grandest stage, scoring 21 points in UCLA's historic NCAA Championship win.
Following the Miami Heat's 152-136 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, third-year forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. immediately traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to watch his sister, Gabriel Jaquez, play for an NCAA National Championship with the UCLA Bruins. The program was set to face coach Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Jaquez is a senior, having played all four years with her hometown team. She was in the midst of a career season: 13.3 points on 53.8 percent shooting, 38.7 percent from three-point range, 5.4 rebounds, two assists, and 1.1 steals. The 22-year-old earned Second Team Big 10 honors.
Following a 28-1 overall regular season, plus winning the Big 10 Tournament championship, the Bruins women’s basketball program wins its first-ever NCAA National Championship. The team defeated the Gamecocks after a dominant 79-51 outing on Sunday. Jaquez finished with a game-high 21 points on 57.1 percent shooting, including a couple of three-pointers made, 10 rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 34 minutes.
Jaquez set the tone for the Bruins from the jump, especially after an offensive rebound putback layup, plus the foul early in the first quarter. Four of her assists came from setting up senior All-American Lauren Betts near the rim, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament.
Jaquez’s brother, Jaime, played for the Bruins men’s basketball program for four years, but only reached as far as the “Final Four” in the 2020-21 season. She will conclude her tenure on a high note.
“I imagined this moment,” Jaquez said following the win. “I imagined it so many times and I’m just so so proud. Crying about it, the confetti, all the fans being here to support us, my family being here. It just means everything. Celebrating with this group, I’m so happy.”
Jaquez’s father and mother were present at the game, along with her other brother, Marcos, supporting her and the team.
“I love my family so much,” she added. “They’ve supported me every step of the way. My mom was balling before the game started at the sendoff. I was like, ‘Mom, me too, but not yet. I can’t cry yet.’ It’s just been so emotional. This being my last time I wear this uniform is making me really emotional too. To finish like this means everything.”
The next step for Jaquez will be to officially declare for the upcoming WNBA Draft. She’s projected to be a first-round selection and with winning a National Championship, it will solidify her stock.
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