Vanessa Bryant Honors Gigi with Sweet UConn Tribute

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Vanessa Bryant is thinking of her late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.

On April 6, 2025, following the University of Connecticut Huskies’ victory in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks, a 42-year-old person expressed a touching tribute to Gianna’s preferred women’s sports team.

Vanessa posted on her Instagram Stories, “Gigi would have been thrilled to be there with you,” accompanied by a picture of the UConn Huskies celebrating their latest win. She also included a quote that Gigi, who tragically passed away at 13 along with her father Kobe Bryant (41) and seven others in a 2020 helicopter crash, had shared with the team in the past. The quote reads, “When you think you can’t, UCONN.” Notably, the Huskies themselves use this inspiring phrase on their Instagram too.

After Vanessa’s shout-out, the women’s basketball team shared it on their Instagram Stories, accompanied by two blue heart emoticons. This affectionate exchange once again highlights the strong connection between the Bryant family and the Huskies. In reality, their relationship can be traced back to 2018, when Kobe publicly mentioned that Gigi was determined to play for the Connecticut team someday.

Approximately three weeks following Gianna’s passing, the Huskies paid tribute to her by placing a jersey with her name embroidered on it and an arrangement of white roses on the team bench during their match on January 27th.

The team later shared a photo of the tribute on their Instagram, noting she’s “forever a Husky.” 

Instead of continuing Gianna’s support for the team, Vanessa is commemorating her legacy by creating a novel sneaker design. Last April, just a month before what would have been Gigi’s 18th birthday, Vanessa unveiled a unique edition of the Nike Kobe 8 “Mambacita,” a protro sneaker designed with inspiration from Gianna’s nickname.

In the Instagram post she labeled as “MAMBACITA”, there was a picture of a shoe embellished with butterflies, and the date written was May 1, 2006, which she noted as “GIGI.”)

Keep reading to see more heartwarming moments from the Bryant family…

The renowned basketball player was pictured with his mom, Pamela Bryant, and dad, Joe Bryant, following their NBA Championship victory on June 19, 2000.

The duo were all smiles while posing for a portrait in November 2000.

Vanessa showed off her baby bump at the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles.

Back in December 2019, Kobe posted on Instagram, “Happy Third Birthday, B.B. I can hardly believe it! We adore you, our sweet little one.

 

“My Bianka Bella Bryant (BBB),” Kobe wrote on Instagram back in November 2019.

“Happy Thanksgiving! Thankful for my family!” Kobe wrote via Instagram back in November 2019.

The Bryants dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz back in October 2019.

“My Gigi,” Kobe wrote on Instagram back in September 2019.

In 2019, a pair consisting of a father and daughter settled down at the Lakers versus Mavericks match held at the Staples Center.

In a September 2019 post, Vanessa Bryant astonished me by bringing our two adorable babies B.B and KoKo to my book signing for #legacyandthequeen at Barnes & Noble.

Kobe posted on Instagram in May 2019, a month before Capri’s birth, wishing Vanessa Bryant a Happy Mother’s Day and expressing his love and gratitude for all she does for their family. He called her the foundation of everything they cherish, and wrote that he loves her using the hashtags #mybaby, #lioness, #mamabear, and #queenmamba.

 

In March 2019, Kobe shared on Instagram that he had an excellent visit at UConn women’s basketball (UConnWBB) for senior night and the retirement ceremony of basketball icon @promise50. He expressed gratitude towards Gampel, Coach Geno, and Cd for their warm welcome. He wished them good luck for the rest of their journey.

At a clash between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks, Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, had a unique experience together during the game.

In the year 2018, Vanessa, Kobe, Natalia, and Gianna were present at the first public showing of “A Wrinkle in Time” held in Los Angeles.

We took an unexpected vacation as a family to Cabo San Lucas for my 40th birthday! The Bryant crew had a blast, and we celebrated with the hashtags #bryantbunch, #queenmamba, and #mambacitas.

Kobe and his family members attended a women’s basketball game in Los Angeles back in 2017.

In 2017, Kobe Bryant beamed with joy as he took photos with his relatives at the event where his jersey was retired. [Basketball legend] Magic Johnson was present too.

Kobe attended the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards with Vanessa, Gianna and Natalia in 2016.

Here, the family members were pictured at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Bryant celebrated his major win with his daughter Gianna by his side.

Preparing for action! In 2016, the legendary basketball figure received a loving embrace from his daughter before playing in the NBA All-Star Game.

In the year 2011, Kobe Bryant’s spouse and children were present at the event where his hand and footprints were immortalized in Hollywood, California.

 

Kobe, his wife and their daughters celebrated the Lakers’ NBA championship at Disneyland in 2010.

In 2009, the prominent basketball player rejoiced over a Lakers triumph by celebrating with Vanessa and their children at a festive parade held in Los Angeles.

In a 2017 conversation with Extra, Kobe affectionately called his daughters his “little princesses of Daddy”. This photograph dates back to 2007, where he is seen with Vanessa and Natalia.

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2025-04-07 23:49