Yissel Raposo is the mother of Michigan basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg and a central figure in his rise to the Final Four. Raposo has become a familiar face during the NCAA Tournament as her son leads Michigan, but her influence on his journey started long before the spotlight. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Yaxel Lendeborg’s Mom Yissel Raposo Fuels His Game From the Stands
Raposo has become known for her courtside energy, which directly impacts her son’s play.
“The majority of the times when she’s (at the game), I get a lot more aggressive,” Yaxel said in a new interview with The Athletic. “She has this certain calling that she does whenever I get the ball.”
Raposo explained her approach with a laugh. “I just say in Spanish, ‘Vamos, Yaxel!’ You know, ‘Let’s go!’”
She added, “Sometimes I do a sound with my mouth, and I know he hear me.”
That connection stands out even in packed arenas. “I can hear nobody else in the stadium but her,” Yaxel said. “It puts me in attack mode, honestly.”
2. Yissel Raposo Battled Cancer While Supporting Yaxel Lendeborg
Raposo has remained by her son’s side despite serious health challenges, including a cancer diagnosis.
Her presence at games has become a defining image of Michigan’s tournament run, as she continues to support Yaxel on the biggest stage.
Her resilience has mirrored the persistence she has always shown throughout his life.
3. Yaxel Lendeborg’s Mom Changed His Life in a Defining Moment
Raposo played a direct role in changing her son’s trajectory during a difficult period in his life.
In his Players’ Tribune essay, Yaxel recalled a moment that reshaped everything.
“You need to do what I tell you right now, Yax,” she said.
He described the moment in detail: “She’s crying some of the realest, saddest tears you will ever see in your life.”
Yaxel said that realization changed him. “I literally remember thinking… Why would you do this to your own mom?”
He added, “My mom pretty much saved my life that night.”
That turning point led him to take school seriously and pursue basketball with purpose.
4. Yissel Raposo’s Basketball Background Helped Guide Yaxel Lendeborg
Raposo understood her son’s potential early, thanks to her own athletic background.
She played basketball and volleyball at the American University of Puerto Rico and later competed alongside Yaxel’s father for the Dominican Republic national team.
“I always say, ‘Yaxel, you have talent, God gave you the talent. So you have to be good in life,’” she said.
Her experience allowed her to guide Yaxel even when he struggled to see his own future.
5. Yaxel Lendeborg’s Mom Is His ‘Guardian Angel’
Raposo’s impact remains central to Yaxel’s success today.
“Sometimes I’m at a loss for words when I think about where I am right now. I owe it all to my mom,” Yaxel said. “It means the world to me (to have her here).”
He also described her in personal terms. “All that I do, anything I have or will accomplish, I owe it all to her,” he wrote. “She is my guardian angel. My hero.”
As Michigan heads into the Final Four, Raposo continues to be a constant presence—both in the stands and in her son’s journey.
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