Vanessa Bryant Honors Gigi’s Memory After UConn’s Championship Victory: “She Was Always a Champion”

Vanessa Bryant Honors Gigi’s Memory After UConn’s Championship Victory: “She Was Always a Champion”

Vanessa Bryant Honors Late Daughter Gigi After UConn’s National Championship Victory: “She Would’ve Loved Being There”

As the University of Connecticut Huskies claimed the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship on April 6, 2025, a wave of emotion swept over Vanessa Bryant. The Huskies’ commanding victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks, fueled by the exceptional play of stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, marked a moment of triumph, but it was also one of poignant remembrance for Vanessa.

Reflecting on the victory, Vanessa shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, expressing what many fans were feeling: that her late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, would have cherished being there to witness it. Posting UConn’s championship announcement, Vanessa wrote, “Gigi would’ve loved being there with you,” followed by a touching quote, “When you think you can’t, UCONN”—a nod to the determination her daughter embodied. The post was accompanied by two heart emojis, one broken, in remembrance of the 18-year-old who would have undoubtedly been in the spotlight had she still been with us.

Gianna Bryant, who tragically died alongside her father, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, had been a passionate fan of the UConn Huskies. In the years leading up to her untimely passing, Gigi had made no secret of her dream to play for the Huskies, a program she admired for its excellence and legacy in women’s college basketball.

The bond between UConn and Gianna was further cemented in the aftermath of the crash. The university paid tribute to Gigi by draping her No. 2 jersey over one of their benches, adorned with a bouquet of blue and white ribbons. The caption shared by the team read: “Mambacita is forever a Husky 💙.”

Following UConn’s win, Bueckers was asked during a press conference whether she’d thought about how Gianna could have been a part of the team. With deep emotion, she reflected on the moments throughout the tournament when the presence of Kobe and Gigi seemed to shine through. “God has really shown himself,” Bueckers shared, mentioning that her mother had stayed in room 824, a nod to Kobe’s iconic jersey numbers. “I feel like a lot of that too is Kobe’s watching over us, Gigi’s watching over us.”

For Vanessa, UConn’s victory brought both pride and sorrow, as she honored her daughter’s memory while watching others realize the dreams Gianna once held so dearly. It was a bittersweet moment—a reminder of what could have been, but also a celebration of the spirit Gianna carried with her and continues to inspire in others.