Vanessa Bryant Reflects on Daughter Gigi’s Absence as UConn Celebrates National Championship Victory

Vanessa Bryant was reflecting on her deceased daughter Gianna as the University of Connecticut Huskies secured the title of 2025 NCAA champions.

Following the Huskies’ substantial victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the finals on Sunday, April 6, bolstered by impressive performances from Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd, Vanessa, 42, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

Sharing UConn’s official graphic proclaiming their championship win, Vanessa wrote, “Gigi would’ve loved being there with you.”

In her message, she included the quote, “When you think you can’t, UCONN’ – Gianna Bryant,” along with two heart emojis, one being broken in memory of her late daughter, who would have turned 18 and likely participated in March Madness.

Vanessa also acknowledged UConn’s basketball program and head coach Geno Auriemma, who has now achieved 12 national championships.

Gianna and her father Kobe Bryant tragically lost their lives in a helicopter accident on January 26, 2020. Prior to her untimely death, Gianna was an enthusiastic supporter of the Huskies, and the university cherished her in return. In 2020, CNN highlighted Gianna’s dream, stating she “always wanted to play for the Huskies,” a team recognized as one of the premier women’s college basketball programs in the nation.

Just a day after the tragic incident, UConn paid tribute to Gianna by placing her No. 2 jersey over one of their bench seats, accompanied by a flower bouquet adorned with blue and white ribbons.

The social media post was captioned, “Mambacita is forever a Husky 💙”.

Following the Huskies’ victory on Sunday, Bueckers was questioned in a press conference about Gianna potentially being part of the team. The UConn star expressed that there were moments “throughout the whole tournament that God has really shown himself,” as conveyed in a video on social media.

Bueckers mentioned that her mother stayed in room 824, “both of Kobe’s numbers,” indicating unique connections.

“I feel like a lot of that too is Kobe’s watching over us, Gigi’s watching over us,” Bueckers told the press.