Veronica. *Source: Puentes, 2025.*

Veronica. *Source: Puentes, 2025.*

"My name is Veronica. I was born in Acaticala Veracruz, Mexico in 1982. There were no roads so we walked everywhere on trails. Our water came from springs which we carried to our homes in jugs. I remember my childhood was a happy time. I went to school and I became good at basketball.

I met Roberto and we got married. Our first child was Kevin. Roberto soon began to work in the United States. He sent money home so we could build a home and educate Kevin. Every few years Roberto would return home and we had 2 more children, Aaron and Meagan. I took the money Roberto sent and bought some land, built a house for us, built a house for his parents, raised 3 kids to be great human beings, and at one time cared for 17 people in our household. I am proud of what I have done."

Veronica with two of her children Aaron and Meagan. Source: Puentes.

Veronica (second from right), her father in law Gerardo (right), her mother in law Concepcion (second from the left), and two other family members. Source: Veronica's husband.

Veronica in her home. Source: Veronica.

Veronica's family with Puentes members outside of her home. Source: Puentes.

Veronica and her daughter Meagan. Source: Puentes.

Veronica with two of her children Aaron and Meagan. Source: Puentes.

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Veronica (second from right), her father in law Gerardo (right), her mother in law Concepcion (second from the left), and two other family members. Source: Veronica's husband.

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Veronica in her home. Source: Veronica.

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Veronica's family with Puentes members outside of her home. Source: Puentes.

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Veronica and her daughter Meagan. Source: Puentes.

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Building a Home

“My house was ugly, growing up. And now we’ve made this home. Ugly little wooden house — we had to excavate loads of sand and gravel, leveled the ground, made the garden. I did it. We bought a little more land — 6 pieces — I have some sheep down there...

And when my daughter was very young. I sold empanadas in the school with my mother in law because I didn’t have enough money. My mother in law got up at 5 am to make tamales. When I married Roberto he had a wooden house...

.he houses have changed a lot. When I came here my mother in law had a wooden house. We all lived together in that house, in one kitchen room. Sometimes there wasn’t enough food. Started building this house when Kevin was born. After 4 years, Roberto came back. Then, I had Aaron. Then he left and came back again and Megan was born. He always wanted a girl.

I always went to dances with friends and we met at a dance and became a couple. He says he’s going to come, see his girl, and then go back. She goes to 6th grade in July. If he comes in December then he goes back, to keep paying for school.”

“I am proud of what I have done”

Miniature ball court made before the 16th century in Mexico. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Figurine of a ball player found in the Valley of Mexico and was created around 1200-1000 B.C.E. Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art.

BASKETBALL

Before contact with the Spanish in the late 16th century, Indigenous communities throughout Mexico, Central America, and South America played various competitive games using a rubber ball. A player would score points when the ball went through a stone hoop. Some of the earliest evidence of these games dates back as early as 300 C.E., including sites in Veracruz occupied by the Mayans and Mexica. While historical accounts primarily focus on male ball players, the ancient Maya and other Mesoamerican civilizations did include women in their ball games as players and participants.

It was not until the early twentieth century that modern basketball was introduced to Mexico. More recently, in 1989, the Mexico women's national basketball team first competed. Today, Veronica finds independence and enjoyment in playing basketball in a community league, after falling in love with the game in high school.