The year, 2020. The year when the NBA world got ripped of one of the greatest players the hardwood has seen, the Black Mamba. “He died doing what he loved, being a girl-dad” is something that some fans cannot get out their minds after all these years. Now, the girl-dad, who was supposed to watch his daughter carry on his legacy, and the girl who said “Ain’t no boy to do that, I got this” when asked about it are both no more.

“Mambacita is forever a Husky” the Uconn team had captioned its old tribute post for Gianna Bryant, who was an avid Huskies fan. Had the tragic accident not taken away the 13-year-old in 2020, she might have been one of the best players to join the Huskies team. Even after all these years, Gigi is not forgotten and never will be. As the UConn Huskies won the national championship, the players reminisced about the father-daughter duo.

After many hard-fought battles, the UConn Huskies finally ended their 9-year-long title drought, winning the championship with an 82–59 victory against South Carolina. Huskies player Paige Bueckers expressed how the team achieved an incredible win. Bueckers went on to say that she felt the presence of Kobe Bryant and Gigi cheering and rooting for them throughout the week. Another Huskies star, Azzi Fudd, had similar sentiments.

In her latest interview with TMZ, Fudd was asked about 13-year-old Gigi and Vanessa’s special message. “Vanessa’s incredible and so is her entire family,” Fudd said. “She (Gigi) would have been a freshman and someone else asked me there there were like couple score it was like 24 and 8 in the stat line and they’re like do you believe in like just God’s power and I’m like yeah that’s God that’s them that’s Kobe that’s Gigi that’s them watching down on us cheering us on in this game she was there she’s not here but she was there in spirit and just I mean to have Vanessa reach out and make that message it it’s super powerful and definitely means a lot!” 

Bueckers too experienced a few more moments where she felt the father-daughter duo were indeed watching over them. She revealed that her mother’s hotel room number, 824, was a nod to both of Bryant’s jersey numbers. Bueckers also paid tribute to her late friend Abby and to her former teammate Amaya Battle, whose mother passed away this season.

This was the UConn Huskies’ 12th national title, and Gigi would have been euphoric at the win. So, her mother Vanessa made sure to let those emotions be known. It still hits you, doesn’t it? Thinking about Kobe and Gigi and how much basketball meant to them. And you remember Gigi’s dream of playing for UConn?  Vanessa and her tribute to the UConn only makes you think about all the dreams and the love that’s still there.

Vanessa Bryant’s heartfelt tribute to the UConn 

She watched her daughter rooting for the team. It was an emotional moment for her too. The mother of four was the happiest after the Huskies secured a title win. In her message, she congratulated the program and head coach Geno Auriemma. Auriemma was a close friend of Bryant. In 2018, the Los Angeles Lakers expressed how much his daughter loved UConn and wanted to play for the program.

After UConn’s one disappointing loss, little Gianna wrote a special letter to cheer them up and boost their morale. The letter read, “When you think you can’t, UCONN!” Vanessa didn’t forget the words. She quoted the famous words for the team as well. “Gigi would’ve loved being with you,” Vanessa wrote.

After that unfortunate day that took the lives of nine people, including Bryant and Gigi, the team paid a special tribute to Gigi with a Huskies jersey No. 2. The Huskies also left a seat vacant with her jersey on it and placed white roses and daisies. Bryant in his interview with Jimmy Kimmel once shared that Gianna wanted to play in the WNBA. Gigi had talent as well as love and passion for the sport like her father.