Laurel was born in San Diego, CA and grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She attended the University of Washington where she majored in Communications and was recruited as a fashion model. While working in Milan, Italy she met her husband Mike who was a professional basketball player. Laurel left the fashion world to work in the sports and television world.
After 17 years in Italy, she moved when her husband was hired to coach in the NBA. Laurel created the Houston Rockets Women’s Organization whose main priority is to work with the families of the Houston Rockets Basketball Operations department and help the new families integrate into Houston and get involved in the community.
As a result of her husband’s job, she has dedicated her time to leveraging sports to bring visibility to those who may need a voice. She has chaired many events for non-profits in the cities they have lived and has been recognized for her volunteer activities.