Vanessa Bryant honored the memory of her late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, following UConn’s victory in the 2025 NCAA women’s basketball championship. After the Huskies defeated South Carolina on Sunday, April 6, with standout performances by Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, Vanessa, 42, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram.
Reposting UConn’s championship graphic, she wrote, “Gigi would’ve loved being there with you.” She also added a quote in tribute: “’When you think you can’t, UCONN’ Gianna Bryant,” accompanied by a red heart and a broken heart emoji. Vanessa tagged both the Huskies’ basketball team and longtime head coach Geno Auriemma, who has now led the program to a record 12 national titles.
Gianna and her father, NBA legend Kobe Bryant, tragically died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. Before her passing, Gianna was an avid supporter of the UConn program and dreamed of playing for the Huskies. In tribute, UConn honored her just a day after the crash by placing her No. 2 jersey on their bench along with a bouquet in the team’s colors. At the time, the team shared a message that read, “Mambacita is forever a Husky.”
Following UConn’s win, Bueckers was asked in a press conference about Gianna’s connection to the team. She reflected on the spiritual moments she’d felt during the tournament, noting that her mother was staying in room 824 the numbers Kobe famously wore. “It feels like Kobe and Gigi are watching over us,” Bueckers said.
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