Inside The Heat

Gabriela Jaquez Drew Inspiration From Brother To Lead UCLA To Final Four

Shandel Richardson|
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) cuts part of the net after a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the LSU Lady Tigers at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) cuts part of the net after a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the LSU Lady Tigers at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | James Snook-Imagn Images

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In 2021, Gabriela Jaquez was in attendance to support her big brother lead the UCLA Bruins in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Her brother, Jaime who now plays for the Miami Heat, should be able to return the favor. Gabriela Jaquez led the Bruins to a victory against UCLA Saturday against LSU in the Elite Eight.

They face either UConn or USC in the Final this weekend in Tampa, which a short drive or flight for her brother from Miami.


"Just super proud of my team and the whole coaching staff staff," Gabriela Jaquez said. "We just worked so hard all season at the beginning of the spring and the summer. I'm just so proud of everyone. The coaches just really gave us a really good scouting report and we did. I was at my brother's game [in 2021]. Just enhancing on this college level, made me want to do the same even more. I'm just super proud of my team and I'm really excited."


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Gabriela had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bruins past LSU in the Elite Eight. It marks the first time UCLA has advanced to the Final Four.

Gabriela Jaquez made the clinching 3-pointer with 1 minute, 28 seconds left. Her basket put UCLA ahead 62-53. The Bruins then went on a 72-65 victory. They face either USC or UConn in the Final Four in Tampa.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here