George Washington University Athletics
GW Athletics Hall of Fame Spotlight: Noelia Gomez
12/22/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
All-American helped women’s basketball to its greatest heights
Hailing from Madrid, Spain, Noelia Gomez was part of some of the most memorable moments in GW women's basketball history.
Over three seasons from 1996-99, the 6-foot-3 forward piled up 1,600 points and 567 rebounds while helping the Buff and Blue secure two Atlantic 10 titles, two NCAA bids and 67 total victories. She remains the program's all-time leader in career scoring average at 18.0 points per game.
Gomez made an instant impact as a first-year in 1996-97, earning A-10 Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honors for a squad that went unbeaten during conference play in the regular season before playing a key role on its unforgettable NCAA Tournament push to the Elite Eight.
On the way to history, Gomez fueled the Sweet 16 upset victory over top-seeded North Carolina, tying frontcourt partner Tajama Abraham for the team lead with 18 points. That celebrated group, led by Head Coach Joe McKeown, was inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame together in 2019.
The next year, Gomez was named to the All-Conference First Team and an All-American leading a group that returned to the NCAA Tournament, and in 1998-99, she was named the A-10 Player of the Year after averaging 19.6 points per game, a mark that still ranks fourth in program history.
After earning a pair of degrees in Foggy Bottom, Gomez bypassed opportunities to continue her hoops career in the pro ranks, instead returning to Spain to pursue her interest in the world of business. Today, she's a director of operations with a pharmaceutical company in her home country and an enthusiastic supporter of her 15-year-old son Sergio's budding hoops career.
Gomez will officially be inducted soon into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, alongside seven other celebrated individuals and one historic team.
You were previously inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1997 Elite Eight team. To go in as an individual, what does this honor mean to you?
"Getting the call, I was really emotional. After so many years, it means a lot. When I was younger, I don't know that I would've appreciated that kind of recognition, but after so many years and now that I have a 15-year-old son who's playing basketball, you see everything in a different way.
"I got so excited when we got recognized as the Elite Eight team, but I was not able to make it. This time, I said, 'I'm going for sure if COVID lets us do it.'
"It was wonderful to be honored with my team. I was thinking of all the memories. It was such a good team, and we had such a good time. Now, having my university recognizing my work personally, I really, really appreciate it."
The program had so much success while you were in Foggy Bottom. What made those groups so special?
"Joe made the team really close to each other. We were going to his house for events, having special moments. The team was really diverse. I would say everyone was bringing their own experience from their different countries, different backgrounds. It was really enriching.
"We were treated with so much respect and motivated in a good way. It was really a family feeling. Everyone cared about each other. For the people who came from other countries, our teammates helped us get into the culture. That was the highlight for me.
"No one can forget those days, no one. The whole university was really into it. The gym was always packed full. Everybody was supporting us, so we wanted to win for them."
Head Coach Caroline McCombs has a real appreciation for the history of the program. What was it like to get the Hall of Fame news from her?
"When I talked to her, she was telling me that we were playing (college basketball) at the same time, but we never got to play against each other. I could feel that she was really excited. She wanted to be the first person to tell me, and it was an honor for me that she had that feeling.
"It's like she knew the spirit of our team at the time. Because it was unexpected to get to that level, to be in the Elite Eight. We were a team that nobody was expecting us to beat North Carolina. It was such a big game we will never forget, so it's nice to be remembered like that today."
Looking back, why was GW such a good fit for you, on and off the court?
"Everyone made me feel at home at GW. I really appreciated the people part. I was really welcomed, and everyone treated me with so much caring and respect. That's why it was magic, I think. The personal connection was really, really important.
"Joe took great care of us, and there were so many others. Sheila Hoben was so good with the academic part, helping make everything possible. They were all really, really good human beings. That's something that really makes a difference."
Beyond the Elite Eight run, what are your favorite memories?
"When I was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, that meant so much to me. When I came to GW, nobody knew about me. Getting that recognition, I was surprised.
"Of course, all student-athletes work hard, but especially at that university, it's not easy. School is really important, and it takes a lot of effort to balance it all.
"Being the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, I was really surprised. I remember that moment speaking in front of everyone (at the banquet before the conference tournament), it was like 'Me? Why me?' That was something really important.
"Then just sharing my experience with Elisa Aguilar, who was my teammate (in Spain) before going to GW, was something to remember for me. We had a lot of fun together, and I'm glad that she got to have that experience, too."
You're still the all-time leading scorer by average for this program. When you hear that knowing the decorated history, what do you think?
"For me, it's something that I cannot believe. I worked like everyone else. Having this record, I feel amazed. I just did the best I could.
"For me, numbers are not really important. For me, being recognized because of something that helped the university and our team to do something they've never done in the NCAA Tournament is pretty amazing. The numbers are not really important. It's more about the contribution that I was able to make.
"I'd say that's why it meant so much when I got the (Hall of Fame) call. I'm excited about being able to come back with my son and share with him my experience and show him where I lived my best moments in my life. It's really an honor."
Over three seasons from 1996-99, the 6-foot-3 forward piled up 1,600 points and 567 rebounds while helping the Buff and Blue secure two Atlantic 10 titles, two NCAA bids and 67 total victories. She remains the program's all-time leader in career scoring average at 18.0 points per game.
Gomez made an instant impact as a first-year in 1996-97, earning A-10 Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference honors for a squad that went unbeaten during conference play in the regular season before playing a key role on its unforgettable NCAA Tournament push to the Elite Eight.
On the way to history, Gomez fueled the Sweet 16 upset victory over top-seeded North Carolina, tying frontcourt partner Tajama Abraham for the team lead with 18 points. That celebrated group, led by Head Coach Joe McKeown, was inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame together in 2019.
The next year, Gomez was named to the All-Conference First Team and an All-American leading a group that returned to the NCAA Tournament, and in 1998-99, she was named the A-10 Player of the Year after averaging 19.6 points per game, a mark that still ranks fourth in program history.
After earning a pair of degrees in Foggy Bottom, Gomez bypassed opportunities to continue her hoops career in the pro ranks, instead returning to Spain to pursue her interest in the world of business. Today, she's a director of operations with a pharmaceutical company in her home country and an enthusiastic supporter of her 15-year-old son Sergio's budding hoops career.
Gomez will officially be inducted soon into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame, alongside seven other celebrated individuals and one historic team.
You were previously inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the 1997 Elite Eight team. To go in as an individual, what does this honor mean to you?
"Getting the call, I was really emotional. After so many years, it means a lot. When I was younger, I don't know that I would've appreciated that kind of recognition, but after so many years and now that I have a 15-year-old son who's playing basketball, you see everything in a different way.
"I got so excited when we got recognized as the Elite Eight team, but I was not able to make it. This time, I said, 'I'm going for sure if COVID lets us do it.'
"It was wonderful to be honored with my team. I was thinking of all the memories. It was such a good team, and we had such a good time. Now, having my university recognizing my work personally, I really, really appreciate it."
The program had so much success while you were in Foggy Bottom. What made those groups so special?
"Joe made the team really close to each other. We were going to his house for events, having special moments. The team was really diverse. I would say everyone was bringing their own experience from their different countries, different backgrounds. It was really enriching.
"We were treated with so much respect and motivated in a good way. It was really a family feeling. Everyone cared about each other. For the people who came from other countries, our teammates helped us get into the culture. That was the highlight for me.
"No one can forget those days, no one. The whole university was really into it. The gym was always packed full. Everybody was supporting us, so we wanted to win for them."
Head Coach Caroline McCombs has a real appreciation for the history of the program. What was it like to get the Hall of Fame news from her?
"When I talked to her, she was telling me that we were playing (college basketball) at the same time, but we never got to play against each other. I could feel that she was really excited. She wanted to be the first person to tell me, and it was an honor for me that she had that feeling.
"It's like she knew the spirit of our team at the time. Because it was unexpected to get to that level, to be in the Elite Eight. We were a team that nobody was expecting us to beat North Carolina. It was such a big game we will never forget, so it's nice to be remembered like that today."
Looking back, why was GW such a good fit for you, on and off the court?
"Everyone made me feel at home at GW. I really appreciated the people part. I was really welcomed, and everyone treated me with so much caring and respect. That's why it was magic, I think. The personal connection was really, really important.
"Joe took great care of us, and there were so many others. Sheila Hoben was so good with the academic part, helping make everything possible. They were all really, really good human beings. That's something that really makes a difference."
Beyond the Elite Eight run, what are your favorite memories?
"When I was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, that meant so much to me. When I came to GW, nobody knew about me. Getting that recognition, I was surprised.
"Of course, all student-athletes work hard, but especially at that university, it's not easy. School is really important, and it takes a lot of effort to balance it all.
"Being the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, I was really surprised. I remember that moment speaking in front of everyone (at the banquet before the conference tournament), it was like 'Me? Why me?' That was something really important.
"Then just sharing my experience with Elisa Aguilar, who was my teammate (in Spain) before going to GW, was something to remember for me. We had a lot of fun together, and I'm glad that she got to have that experience, too."
You're still the all-time leading scorer by average for this program. When you hear that knowing the decorated history, what do you think?"For me, it's something that I cannot believe. I worked like everyone else. Having this record, I feel amazed. I just did the best I could.
"For me, numbers are not really important. For me, being recognized because of something that helped the university and our team to do something they've never done in the NCAA Tournament is pretty amazing. The numbers are not really important. It's more about the contribution that I was able to make.
"I'd say that's why it meant so much when I got the (Hall of Fame) call. I'm excited about being able to come back with my son and share with him my experience and show him where I lived my best moments in my life. It's really an honor."
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