Gabriela Jaquez Is Bringing Her 'Confident' Style to the Chicago Sky After Getting Picked No. 5 in WNBA Draft (Exclusive)

Gabriela Jaquez at the 2026 WNBA Draft
Credit: Catalina Fragoso/NBAE via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• NCAA champion Gabriela Jaquez breaks down her personal style in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
• Jaquez, who was drafted to the Chicago Sky fifth overall at the WNBA Draft, says her "go-to style piece" is a black or white tank top
• Jaquez says she didn't "realize" playing basketball would turn her into a role model, but she's "so grateful" for her fans

Gabriela Jaquez is ready to take on Chicago.

The 22-year-old was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2026 WNBA Draft on Monday, April 13, just two weeks after she and UCLA won the NCAA women's basketball championship.

Now, Jaquez tells PEOPLE she's "super thankful and really excited for the opportunity" to bring her "confident" personal style on and off the court to the WNBA with the help of JCPenney's Inside Lane.

Gabriela Jaquez at the 2026 WNBA Draft
Credit: David Dow/NBAE via Getty

"I would say my personal style is a pretty elevated, basic style," says Jaquez, who recalls "growing up and shopping at JCPenney" with her mom, Angela, who played basketball for Concordia University.

"I definitely like to put things together, but not too much. I just like to dress very confidently," she says.

A Southern California native, Jaquez says her "go-to style piece" is a simple "black or white tank top" for versitility. "You can elevate it or wear it casually. And whenever I travel, I always will pack a black or white tank top," says the NCAA champ.

At 6'0", finding clothes that fit her right can be a challenge, Jaquez says. "When I'm wearing denim, I like to make sure it fits me correctly, because being a tall girl, it's sometimes hard to find and JCPenney has been great with that."

Gabriela Jaquez via JCPenney
Credit: JCPenny

Beyond her style, Jaquez knows she's become a role model in her time at UCLA.

"To have little girls look up to me just really means everything," she tells PEOPLE. "You don't really realize when you're playing basketball, that that's going to happen. For me, I'm playing on having fun, and then what a great addition."

Now that she's partnering with JCPenney, Jaquez's fans can shop her game day looks and find inspiration from the basketball star. "I think it's super fun and I really love how accessible JCPenney is," says Jaquez. "A lot of people ask me like, 'Oh, where did you get those clothes?' Or this and that, and so just to have something super accessible and convenient for my fans is really fun."

As Jaquez looks back on her college career, she says she's "just so grateful" to have spent time as at UCLA, where her brother, NBA star Jaime Jaquez Jr., also made a name for himself.

"I think memories were created there for life and they'll always be the best memories," she says.

Read the original article on People