As UCLA celebrated a historic national championship run, one of the most talked-about storylines surrounding the Bruins wasn’t just their dominance on the court — it was the family connection powering it.
Yes, Gabriela Jaquez is the younger sister of Jaime Jaquez Jr., the Miami Heat forward and former UCLA standout. And over the past week, that connection has taken center stage as both siblings delivered defining moments in their respective basketball journeys.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored a season-high 32 points for Miami in a win over the Washington Wizards before immediately boarding a flight to Phoenix to watch his sister compete in the NCAA women’s national championship.
“It’s going to be pretty epic,” he said on the Heat broadcast. “I’m really happy for my sister and her team… this is their moment right now and just going to go support.”
Family Ties Fuel UCLA Championship Run
GettyGabriela Jaquez led the UCLA Bruins to their first NCAA women’s basketball championship.
The Jaquez siblings’ bond has been years in the making, rooted in their shared experience at UCLA and a lifelong commitment to the program.
Gabriela Jaquez, a senior forward, has been a key piece for the Bruins throughout her career. She entered the championship game averaging 13.3 points per game, ranking third on the team, while also logging the second-most minutes.
Her impact peaked on the biggest stage.
Gabriela led UCLA to a 79-51 victory over South Carolina in the national championship, delivering a dominant performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It marked her first double-double since the season opener and capped a historic night for the program.
The win secured UCLA’s first women’s national title in the NCAA era, cementing Gabriela’s legacy as one of the most important players in program history.
“We keep saying the job’s not finished,” Gabriela said earlier in the tournament. “Still have one more game to win.”
From Childhood Dream to Championship Stage
According to UCLA coach Cori Close, Gabriela’s journey to this moment began long before her college career.
“Gabs made it very clear that I think she was 8 years old, she wrote on that piece of paper she was going to go to UCLA someday,” Close said. “She has played with that kind of gratitude and passion for all four years.”
That vision translated into one of the most successful stretches in school history. UCLA went 123-21 in games Gabriela played, including a remarkable 36-1 record during her senior season.
Her development mirrored that trajectory — evolving from a role player off the bench as a freshman into a leader and projected first-round WNBA draft prospect by her senior year.
Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s Support Highlights Family Legacy
GettyMiami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. flew to Phoenix to support his sister Gabriela Jaquez and UCLA.
For Jaime Jaquez Jr., watching his sister’s rise has been both personal and symbolic.
After starring at UCLA and becoming a first-round NBA draft pick, he has remained closely connected to the program — and to Gabriela’s journey.
“It’s been great,” he said. “She’s grown so much from a freshman to senior year, and this is all her hard work paying off. It’s for this moment right here.”
He arrived in Phoenix wearing UCLA gear, celebrating what he described as a culmination of years of work for both his sister and the Bruins.
“I hope she really cements the Jaquez legacy here at UCLA with a national championship,” he told the California Post. “It’s going to be amazing.”
A Defining Moment for UCLA Basketball
UCLA’s championship performance reflected the depth and balance that defined its season. All five starters scored in double figures, and the Bruins controlled the game from the opening quarter, never relinquishing the lead.
The victory not only delivered a long-awaited title but also underscored the program’s growth under Close — and the role Gabriela played in that rise.
For the Jaquez family, the moment represented more than just a championship.
It was the culmination of a shared dream, years in the making, realized on one of the biggest stages in college basketball.
And for Gabriela Jaquez, it answered the question many fans were asking: not only is she related to Jaime Jaquez Jr. — she’s building a legacy of her own.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Is Gabriela Jaquez Related to Jaime Jaquez? UCLA Star’s Family, Rise Explained appeared first on Heavy Sports.