by Dan Ninham, Contributing Writer
Natalia Chavez is a member of the Cochiti, Laguna and San Felipe Pueblo. She is a basketball player on the Abilene Christian University Wildcats where she transferred in the summer of 2024. Her college start was at the University of New Mexico where she had NIL status.
Chavez had a storied high school career in New Mexico including:
• 2022 All-Metro Girls 5A Player of the Year
• 2020-21 and 2019-20 1-5A District Payer of the Year • Four-time First Team All-District
• Three-time First Team All-State
• Back-2-Back 2022 and 2021 5-A State Champion
• Four-time All-District All Academic
• Reached the 1,000-point career milestone in 2021
• Nominated for an ESPY award for her game-winning half-court shot to win the 5A title
Chavez also had a role in the “Rez Ball” film about an indigenous girls’ basketball team.
Indigenous core values influenced how elite athletes practice and compete. Chavez is grounded in her cultural ways and is strength-based and focused.
“My indigenous core values that influence how I practice and compete is to first always remember where I come from and represent my Pueblo communities with the up most respect,” said Chavez. “My parents have always told me to never forget where I come from and I have taken that to heart.”
“I also make sure I greet the sun every morning and ask my ancestors to guide me every day in whatever they day, week, and month may have in store for me. I make sure that any time I get a chance to go back home I participate in ceremonial and community activities. I was always told that when you help contribute to your community’s well-being, blessing will come your way when it is least expected and I believe that until this day,” added Chavez.
My mentor is my dad Curtis Chavez,” said Chavez. “He’s been my guide through the challenges of life and has taught me to be a leader and never give up.”
“When I first realized that Natalia had a gift for basketball was when she was five years old,” said Curtis Chavez. “She started playing in a youth ‘Rez’ league in Laguna Pueblo and when she first stepped on that court you could tell she was going to be special. She was zooming down the court making layups, jump shots and stealing the ball. As time went on she began to train and develop her skills.”
“One aspect of her training was playing on all boy’s teams which challenge her ability to become a better player physically. Then middle school came and she joined an AAU club ball team called NM Elite which consisted of very talented females in the Albuquerque area. They traveled the country and played a lot of great talent,” added Curtis.
“During that time of seventh grade year she attended University of New Mexico Lobo women’s camp,” said Curtis. “She began to gain interest from them and eventually being offered a scholarship while attending Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“She also received other offers from Colorado State, San Jose State, New Mexico State, Montana, and Nevada. She eventually decided to attend the University of New Mexico. This past spring of 2024 she decided to transfer to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas,” added Curtis.
Curtis continued to talk about his daughter playing college basketball. He said, “Natalia’s commitment to always being in the gym with her trainers and working on her craft has placed her in a position to be where she is today. I know at times she thought I was hard on her by making her do extra sprints or pushing her to get more jump shots in but it proves that a hard work ethic gets you places.”
“She has committed herself to becoming an elite athlete whether it be through training, academics or becoming a role model for Indigenous youth,” added Curtis.
“Going on my third year of college and playing D1 college basketball has helped me with my new chapter in life,” said Chavez.
“Currently I am majoring in Multi-Media Communications with a minor in Business Administration. I’ve grown to be more independent, learned time management and most importantly to be responsible,” added Chavez.
Chavez continued to talk about her direction forward in her life. She said, “I’ve had the opportunity to share my journey, aspirations and the qualities that define me as an Indigenous student athlete to young athletes throughout Pueblo country. This has helped me as I work towards achieving one of my long-term goals, which is to one day start and open a training facility to help Indigenous athletes develop their athletic skills and learn how to live a healthy lifestyle.”
Chavez is continuing to put the pieces of the puzzle together as she prepares for life and a career post-college to serve others.
“My training facility will help Indigenous youth with resources on how to get recruited by college coaches and eventually help them with pursing their dream of playing college and professional sports,” Chavez said. “And most importantly academic resources to help the youth.”
