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As UCLA look to claim their first NCAA women’s basketball championship, senior Gabriela Jaquez is having a fantastic game.
Gabriela, a 6’0” guard for the Bruins, comes from a basketball family. Her older brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., played for UCLA and is now on the Miami Heat, and her younger brother Marcos also plays the sport. “I hope she really cements the Jaquez legacy here at UCLA with a national championship,” Jaime told the California Post ahead of the title game. “It’s going to be amazing.”
“I really don’t care if they see me as Jaime’s little sister. I am his little sister,” Gabriela has previously said about her older brother. “I think it’s a really cool opportunity if we can capitalize on that. And it’s good for our family. It’s a really cool dynamic. But I don’t feel any pressure. I know I’m on my own path.”
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. #11 of the Miami Heat.
Their parents were also basketball players; here, get to know Gabriela Jaquez’s parents Angela Sather and Jaime Jaquez Sr.:
Her dad, Jaime Jaquez Sr.
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Jaime Jr., center, and Jaime Sr., left.
Jaime Sr. playing college basketball at Concordia University in Irvine, California, as did Angela—which is how Gabriela’s parents met. He has roots in Mexico, and wanted to make sure his children all knew the importance of their heritage.
“The name for me is very important,” Jaime Sr. told ESPN. “Jaime’s my name, and in the Mexican tradition, the firstborn [son] is going to be Junior. I wanted my kids to have names in Spanish. Marcos, Gabriela, Jaime. For me, that’s the foundation.”
Her mom, Angela Jaquez (née Sather)
Like her husband, Angela played college basketball at Concordia University. According to ESPN, “Angela was [the 1997] Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year and helped the Golden Eagles qualify for the NAIA tournament. She was inducted into Concordia’s Hall of Fame in 2008.”
Angela was a teacher and now works as a realtor with The Ann Howarth Group at Re/Max Gold Coast. Per her bio, “With a passion for helping people and a deep love for real estate, Angela began her real estate journey in 2006. While originally licensed and active in the industry, she also dedicated many years to raising her three wonderful children—now successful adults—and serving her community as an educator for 16 years. Her background in teaching shaped her exceptional communication skills, patience, and ability to guide clients confidently through every step of the buying and selling process.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.