Jueves de Oax Sport: Desiree Ramírez and University Basketball

Original language: Spanish (radio segment on Tribu al Extremo, 106.1 FM).

Text: Juan Zurita Victoria, MBA
Oax Sport. Athlete Support and Programs.

Report also available in Spanish and French.

This blog series

Jueves de Oax Sport on Tribu al Extremo is a weekly space for athlete stories, sport education, and community voices in Oaxaca.

You can also read Episode 0, Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6.

Episode details

• Host and text: Juan Zurita Victoria, MBA. Oax Sport. Athlete Support and Programs.
• Guest: Desiree Dánae Ramírez García
• Sport: Basketball
• University context: La Salle women’s basketball and Red La Salle
• Athlete social: Instagram, Threads, and TikTok
• Show: Tribu al Extremo (106.1 FM)
• Segment: Jueves de Oax Sport
• Air date: Thursday, April 2, 2026
• Focus: basketball, university sport, student-athlete life, family support, mental preparation, and athlete recognition
• Listen live: every Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Oaxaca time

Focus of the week

This episode did not cover a specific Oax Sport support case.

The focus was university sport. Desiree spoke about what it takes to stay in basketball from childhood into college, especially when school, practice, travel, grades, rest, and personal time all compete for the same hours.

Her message was clear. Talent matters, but structure matters too. Athletes need family support, discipline, training spaces, academic stability, and recognition from the communities they represent.

30-second recap

• Desiree started formal basketball at age 9 after trying several sports.
• Her parents helped her stay in sport when training became difficult.
• Demanding early training taught her discipline, team responsibility, and mental strength.
• Traveling for national and international events changed how she viewed competition.
• She studies civil engineering while playing basketball at La Salle.
• She said university athletes need better access to training spaces, scholarships, and recognition.
• She has found part of that recognition through social media and public visibility.

Interview in text

1. Starting basketball at age 9

Q (Juan): How did your story in basketball begin?

A (Desiree): I formally started basketball at age 9. Before that, my parents always looked for activities for me. I tried taekwondo, athletics, ballet, and other spaces. In the end, basketball won my heart.

Q (Juan): So your parents were a big part of that beginning?

A (Desiree): Yes. They wanted me to do something useful and healthy. At that age, you do not fully understand how far sport can take you. You look for a place where you feel good, where you enjoy yourself, and where you can start finding your own identity.

2. What childhood games taught her

Q (Juan): What do you remember from your first games as a child?

A (Desiree): As a child, you go to have fun. You want to use what the coach taught you. I remember preparing my bag, checking my uniform, taking my ball, eating before the game, hydrating, and arriving excited.

A (Desiree): Now that I coach children, I understand that those details matter. A child does not always see it that way, so parents and coaches need to guide them.

3. Why she did not quit

Q (Juan): What helped you stay in basketball when many children quit early?

A (Desiree): My parents helped a lot. I remember my first training day. It was very hard. We were many children, and the work was heavy. I went home tired and thought it was not for me.

A (Desiree): My mother gave me that push to continue. She knew I was tired, but she encouraged me to go back. That helped me understand the difference between normal training fatigue and a real injury. That support helped me stay.

4. A demanding early basketball environment

Q (Juan): What do you remember from the basketball academy you trained with, the one that started in El Tule?

A (Desiree): I first saw them at a demonstration game when I was in primary school. I was impressed by how they played. I remember thinking that I wanted to play like that and learn what they were doing.

A (Desiree): The training was hard. Looking back, some things were good and others were not ideal for children. But the mindset was strong. The message was that we had to train, compete, and understand that a team needs every player. If one piece fails, the collective objective becomes harder.

5. Competing outside Oaxaca

Q (Juan): How did you grow through the youth categories?

A (Desiree): Most of my basketball development was with that program. We did not usually compete at the state level in Oaxaca. We traveled more to national events, and we also had international events.

A (Desiree): At first, the girls’ team lost by large margins. We faced teams with clear physical differences, different training systems, and a more serious focus from early ages. That motivated me. You look at someone your age doing something better, and you ask what you need to improve.

6. Talent, pressure, and the mental side

Q (Juan): When did you realize you had the ability to take basketball seriously?

A (Desiree): Coaches recognized it first. I also noticed it because of how I could handle stress on the court. In children, talent exists in many forms, but the mental side affects who stands out.

A (Desiree): I had teammates with a lot of talent, even better dribbling than mine. But sometimes the mental pressure of the game did not let them show their real ability. Travel also changed my mindset. It helped me see that there was more beyond my own daily life and made me aim higher.

7. The move to La Salle

Q (Juan): How was your arrival at La Salle?

A (Desiree): It was very particular because it happened during the pandemic. We lost a year of competition. Training was online, classes were online, and no one could go out. As an athlete, that affects you because you want to compete and train on the court.

A (Desiree): What convinced me about La Salle was the facilities and the academic side. I study civil engineering, and the academic program fits what I was looking for. At that time, the women’s basketball team was still building itself, but over the years we improved. We moved from Serie B to Serie A in Red La Salle, and the women’s team is still in Serie A.

8. The life of a student-athlete

Q (Juan): What changed when university became fully in person?

A (Desiree): Civil engineering is demanding. The student-athlete life is also demanding. You learn to organize your time because you have class, training, rest, meals, and homework.

A (Desiree): You also risk parts of your social life. Sometimes the decision is simple. Either I go out, or I train. Either I go out, or I finish an assignment. If your objective is clear, you learn priorities.

A (Desiree): School always has priority for me. In my experience, to be part of a representative team, you need a strong academic average. If you do not stay regular in school, you can lose opportunities to compete. Once school is in order, sport becomes easier to manage.

9. Why athletes leave university sport

Q (Juan): Why do many athletes stall or quit during university?

A (Desiree): A lot comes down to personal organization, academic load, and priorities. Many athletes start saying they do not have time because of projects, homework, or training conflicts. Every degree has demands. You need to know how to manage them.

A (Desiree): Scholarships and university support also matter. Some athletes leave sport because the scholarship is not enough, or because they decide to give full priority to their degree. That is a real issue that people do not always discuss.

10. Access, visibility, and recognition

Q (Juan): What would you improve in university sport?

A (Desiree): I care a lot about La Salle, and I am grateful for what it gave me. But the sport system could improve with more support. If an athlete spends the whole day at the university, studies, trains, and represents the institution, access to the gym and facilities should be easier.

A (Desiree): Strength work, team sessions, and individual work all matter for performance. It is hard to ask athletes to perform without giving them enough access to the spaces they need.

A (Desiree): Recognition is also important. Universities should give athletes more visibility, presentations, interviews, and ceremonies. Winning gives personal satisfaction, but institutional recognition also helps the mental and emotional side. It makes athletes feel backed by their community.

Desiree also explained that she has often found more recognition through social media than through her university environment. Readers can follow her basketball updates on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.

What is next

This episode leaves a useful challenge for universities, teams, and families in Oaxaca. Keeping athletes in sport requires more than asking them to train harder. It requires clear schedules, realistic academic support, training access, scholarship options, and public recognition.

At Oax Sport, we will continue using this space to listen to athletes and share the practical conditions that help them continue.

Quick Q&A for athletes, families, donors, and readers

What does this episode show about university sport?

It shows that university athletes need structure. Talent is not enough when class schedules, grades, training, rest, and travel all compete for time.

Why do athletes leave during university?

Desiree pointed to organization, academic pressure, limited support, scholarship issues, and lack of access to training spaces.

What support helps student-athletes stay in sport?

Family backing, good coaching, flexible training access, academic discipline, and recognition from the university community can all help.

How can people support Oax Sport’s work?

You can support athlete projects through our fundraisers, make a general donation, or contact us to ask how to help.

How you can help

Oax Sport supports athletes and sport communities in Oaxaca through direct support, public storytelling, donor campaigns, running experiences, and community projects.

To help, visit our donation page, review current fundraisers, or contact us to discuss support, partnerships, or athlete referrals.

Transparency

Oax Sport Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 86-3407818). Oax Sport A.C. is a registered Mexican nonprofit (RFC: OSP-230216-SG0). Contact us for receipts or tax documentation.

Listen every Thursday

Listen to Jueves de Oax Sport on Tribu al Extremo (106.1 FM) every Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Oaxaca time.

Follow Tribu al Extremo on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tribualextremo

What can universities do this year to make student-athletes feel truly supported?