Mesquite High’s Candice Gonzales Leads West Team in McDonald’s All-American Game

For 28 years, the gymnasium at Mesquite High School has been the second home of Girl’s Basketball Coach Candice Gonzales. This past week, Coach Gonzales’ second home expanded to the national stage.

On March 31, Coach Gonzales served as the Head Coach for the West Team in the 2026 McDonald’s All-American Girls Basketball Game. She was selected from a national pool of hundreds of candidates, reflecting a remarkable resume of accomplishments and marking a huge recognition of her impact on student-athletes at Mesquite High.

The journey to the All-American stage was paved with decades of excellence. Over 28 years at Mesquite, Gonzales has earned a staggering 544 wins while maintaining a 66% winning percentage across 821 games. Her leadership has guided the Lady Wildcats to two State Championships and four total appearances in the title game. In 2025, the Phoenix Suns and Mercury Foundation presented her with the Spirit of Cotton Award for embodying the spirit of legendary Phoenix Suns coach Cotton Fitzsimmons, an honor that came with a $10,000 check for the Mesquite High Girl’s basketball program.

Basketball has always been a major part of Gonzales’ life. Before she started coaching, Gonzales was a standout basketball player with two state championships at Gilbert High. Her playing career continued at Grand Canyon University, where she was named the Coastal Athletic Association Conference Player of the Year, scoring nearly 30 points per game. In 1998 and 1999, Gonzales was invited to try out for the Phoenix Mercury and the Utah Starzz (the franchise now known as the Las Vegas Aces).

Finding success in basketball has become somewhat of a family tradition. While preparing for the All-American game, Coach Gonzales was managing to support her son in the NCAA Division II college basketball tournament and her daughter, who captured a JUCO National Championship. Coach Gonzales also has a daughter playing professional basketball in Spain, with her youngest daughter having just won an Arizona state championship with her at Mesquite High.

In her 28 years with the Mesquite High Wildcat family, Coach Gonzales has had over 45 players continue their athletic careers in college, and 4 players reach professional levels. 

Coaching the All-American Girl’s West basketball team, Coach Gonzales had the opportunity to coach 12 of the nation's top seniors in a nationally broadcast game held at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Prior to the game, the East and West teams were able to practice in the Phoenix Suns and Mercury training facilities and participated in a service project at the Ronald McDonald House.

Coach Gonzales’ journey to the national stage is a testament to the quality of coaching and character valued across Gilbert Public Schools. For nearly three decades, she has been a pillar of the community, guiding student-athletes toward excellence on and off the court. Learn more about athletics at Mesquite High by visiting MesquiteHigh.GilbertSchools.net/Athletics.