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Basketball has become the family business for the Jaquez family.
The Chicago Sky selected Gabriela Jaquez with the No. 5 overall pick in the WNBA Draft on Monday, making her the second professional basketball player in the family. Gabriela’s brother, Jaime Jaquez Jr., has spent the last three seasons with the Miami Heat.
Jaquez Jr. posted a message to his Instagram stories congratulating his sister.
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UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky in the first round of the WNBA Draft in New York, New York on April 13, 2026. (Pamela Smith/AP Photo)
“Mom we made it!” wrote Jaquez Jr.
Jaquez was a standout player on UCLA’s national title-winning team that season. Her performance in the championship game capped a stellar season as she scored 21 points while grabbing 10 rebounds with five assists in UCLA’s 79-51 win over South Carolina.
Jaquez, who spent all four years of his collegiate career at UCLA, averaged 13.5 points per game. game, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 38 games this season. She shot an astounding 53.9% from the field and an impressive 39% from 3-point range.
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UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez cuts down the net after UCLA defeated South Carolina in the NCAA Women’s Final Four national championship game in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 5, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP Photo)
The 22-year-old was named to the 2025-26 NCAA All-Tournament team, the 2025-26 All-Big Ten team and the 2024-25 NCAA All-Region team throughout his career.
Jaquez Jr. was unable to attend his sister’s big night as he prepares for the Heat’s NBA Play-in tournament against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday.
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Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida on April 12, 2026. (Jim Rassol/Imagn Images)
The 25-year-old small forward has had the best season of his young career for the Heat this year. In 75 games, all but one of which came off the bench, Jaquez Jr. average achieved career-high 15.4 points per game, five rebounds and 4.7 assists per match.
Jaquez Jr. will hope to give the Heat a spark off the bench when they take on the Hornets at 7:30 PM ET on Tuesday.
