Gianna Bryant Never Got to Play For Her Dream Team, So They Made Her an Honorary Member

She had always hoped to play for the UConn Huskies.

Nine people perished in the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna yesterday. And though none of those lives were more valuable than any others, the outsized influence of Kobe on the world has meant he has been central to the coverage, and to the mourning.

What makes the incident even more tragic is that it also ended the short life of Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, Kobe’s 13-year-old daughter, who looked set to carry on his work, both on the court and off.

In the years since retiring from the NBA, Kobe Bryant—whose legacy is as complicated and controversial as it is undeniable—had been a champion for women’s basketball, and had been proud to watch his second-oldest daughter take up his mantle. (Kobe and Vanessa Bryant had four daughters in all.)

He coached her team, the Lady Mavericks, and they were in fact en route to a game when their helicopter crashed. Just last week, the two went viral from their regular courtside seats at Staples Center, as father and daughter ("Mamba" and "Mambacita") discussed on-court strategies.

He also made clear to Jimmy Kimmel in 2018 that he wasn’t disappointed to not have a son, as Gianna was confident about stepping into his shoes.

Gianna was reportedly "hellbent" on attending the University of Connecticut after graduating from high school, as she and her father were big fans of the women’s basketball team there.

And though she was never able to see out her dream, the UConn Huskies dedicated today’s game to Gianna and Kobe, calling Gianna "forever a Husky". They laid out a #2 jersey (her number on the Lady Mavericks) and flowers on their bench in her place.

A mural of both Kobe and Gianna has also emerged in Los Angeles, less than 24 hours after the crash, from artist Jules Muck.

Header Image: Allen Berezovsky / Contributor via Getty Images Entertainment