While balancing the demands of college athletics and academics, Gali commutes nearly an hour each way from her home in Lompoc to Santa Barbara City College. At home, she navigates the emotional strain of her father’s recent arrest and its impact on her family and overall sense of stability.

Beyond her home life, Gali grapples with the fear of immigration enforcement activity impacting her community. As a proud Mexican American, she carries not only her own concerns, but also the emotional weight of friends and neighbors living in uncertainty. These experiences have brought moments of anxiety, isolation, and emotional fatigue, yet she meets them with remarkable grace.

Basketball has become her refuge. Even on overwhelming days, Gali views time in the gym as a space to reset, refocus, and find strength. Her ability to channel adversity into purpose has helped her maintain a 3.6 GPA while remaining a steady, compassionate presence for her teammates.

“Basketball gives me a place to breathe and be myself,” De La Cruz said. “No matter what I’m going through, I remind myself to keep showing up for my team, my family, and myself.”