Gabriela Jaquez becomes dual athlete, joins softball roster ahead of NCAA regional
Sophomore forward Gabriela Jaquez attempts a layup against an opponent. Jaquez joined UCLA softball Monday for its postseason run, becoming the third-active dual-sport athlete at UCLA, according to a UCLA spokesperson. (Jeremy Chen/Photo editor)
By Matthew Royer
May 13, 2024 9:35 p.m.
This post was updated May 14 at 10:18 p.m.
From Pauley Pavilion to Easton Stadium, a new face has entered the fray.
UCLA softball made a last-minute addition to its roster Monday ahead of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional on Friday: sophomore utility – and forward – Gabriela Jaquez.
Jaquez will wear number 32 for the Bruins, according to UCLA softball’s website.
“We are excited to welcome Gabriela Jaquez into our Bruin Softball Family,” said coach Kelly Inouye-Perez in an emailed statement. “Gabriela is a fierce competitor and will add to the depth and versatility of our running game this postseason. As a standout student-athlete on the UCLA women’s basketball team, Gabriela recognizes and upholds our strong Bruin values.”
According to MaxPreps – a high school sports website – Jaquez played three seasons of softball at Adolfo Camarillo High School, hitting .271 over her career.
In Jaquez’s last high school season, her team, including current Bruin sophomore infielder Rylee Pinedo, reached the CIF SoCal Softball Championship, losing to Roosevelt High School in the semifinal. In the championship, current Bruin freshman outfielder Liesl Osteen and Oaks Christian High School defeated Roosevelt for the CIF SoCal title.
Jaquez is not the first dual-sport athlete to join the newly minted Pac-12 champions.
Most recently, UCLA women’s soccer’s Sydney Leroux, Kodi Lavrusky and Lauren Brzykcy all made their debuts as pinch runners for the Bruins in 2011, 2014 and 2019, respectively.
In the past, women’s basketball’s Denise Curry, Jamie Oenning and Nicole Anderson all made appearances for UCLA softball. Women’s soccer players Danesha Adams, Kristy Howard and Julie Hoshizaki also made a transition to the diamond during their time in Westwood.
Women’s volleyball’s Lauren Fendrick played for UCLA softball for one season, as well.
According to a UCLA spokesperson, Jaquez is the third current dual-sport athlete in Westwood, joining JonJon Vaughns and Grant Gray – who play for the baseball and football teams, respectively.
Jaquez is best known as a forward for UCLA women’s basketball. In her second season in Westwood, Jaquez averaged 10 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 34 appearances as a key piece of the Bruins’ March Madness run.
“It’s always more important to Gabs to win than to do anything that she’s comfortable with,” said women’s basketball coach Cori Close after the Bruins’ first-round win against California Baptist. “You look at over her first two years, and you look at the most pressurized moments and who was really the most comfortable in those moments – Gabs always rises to the top.”
In the first round of the NCAA softball tournament, Jaquez will look to create Inouye-Perez’s patented “Bruin Magic” for UCLA.
The Bruins will face Grand Canyon on Friday to begin play in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional.
