Chicago Sky Draft UCLA Star Gabriela Jaquez at No. 5

Jaquez, a guard and forward, will join the Sky after winning a national championship with UCLA.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:36pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in the colors of the Chicago Sky and UCLA Bruins uniforms.The Chicago Sky's selection of Gabriela Jaquez, a proven winner from UCLA, signals a new era of championship aspirations for the franchise.Chicago Today

The Chicago Sky selected Gabriela Jaquez, a guard and forward from UCLA, with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday night. Jaquez, a 6-foot speedster, is fresh off winning a national championship with UCLA and is expected to help rebuild the winning culture in Chicago.

Why it matters

The Sky are looking to bounce back after a disappointing season, and the addition of Jaquez, a proven winner and talented three-level scorer, could be a key piece in their quest to return to the playoffs.

The details

Jaquez spent all four years of her college basketball career at UCLA, appearing in 145 games and averaging 9.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. In the NCAA Title Game, she scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help UCLA defeat South Carolina. The Sky also drafted Latasha Lattimore and Tonie Morgan in the second and third rounds, and acquired Rickea Jackson and Skylar Diggins through trades and signings.

  • The Sky selected Jaquez with the 5th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 14, 2026.
  • Jaquez won the NCAA championship with UCLA on April 2, 2026.

The players

Gabriela Jaquez

A 6-foot guard and forward who spent four years at UCLA, winning a national championship in her final season. She was selected 5th overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Jeff Pagliocca

The general manager of the Chicago Sky, who praised Jaquez's on-court talent and championship pedigree as key reasons for drafting her.

Jaime Jaquez

Gabriela Jaquez's older brother, who plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA.

Lauren Betts

A UCLA alum who was selected 4th overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2026 WNBA Draft, part of a record five UCLA players taken in the first round.

Latasha Lattimore

A 6-foot 4-inch player drafted by the Chicago Sky in the second round of the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Tonie Morgan

A point guard drafted by the Chicago Sky in the third round of the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Rickea Jackson

A 2024 first-round draft pick acquired by the Chicago Sky through a trade or signing.

Skylar Diggins

A seven-time WNBA All-Star acquired by the Chicago Sky through a trade or signing.

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What they’re saying

“Jaquez is a battle-tested three-level scorer who improved every year in college. Combine her on-skill talent with the fact that she's a proven winner, and you have a player that perfectly fits the Sky's vision.”

— Jeff Pagliocca, Chicago Sky General Manager

“Just the style of my play, and my mentality, I think I can play with a lot of teams, and I can fit well in a lot of systems, and just talking to them, just wanting to create an amazing team with great culture, and so I'm just excited to be a part of that.”

— Gabriela Jaquez

What’s next

Fans can purchase Gabriela Jaquez's Chicago Sky jersey, which will be available in the team shop for $130 ahead of the upcoming season.

The takeaway

The addition of Gabriela Jaquez, a talented and championship-winning player from UCLA, provides the Chicago Sky with a key piece to help rebuild their roster and culture as they look to return to the WNBA playoffs.