Op-Ed: In Kobe and Gianna Bryant, women's basketball just lost two of its most compelling allies

When Kobe Bryant died Sunday morning in a helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others, the world wept.

You could tell just by the way they watched the game, courtside at WNBA contests, NBA events and college games. In one photo published again and again since the crash, Kobe is wearing an electric-orange hoodie stamped front and center with the WNBA silhouette, laughing with Gigi. In a YouTube video, she nods along with her father’s animated hand movements, pursing her lips at his no doubt much-too-in-depth analysis, grinning at his advice.

Yet, after 2015 and his retirement from the NBA, Kobe wrote over if not erased the controversy. One of the most recognizable athletes in the world had successfully reinvented himself, adding to an overwhelming resume. He became Kobe the thoughtful artist, producing an Oscar-winning short film “Dear Basketball”; Kobe the philanthropist, businessman and mentor; and especially Kobe the sports dad, coaching Gigi’s Amateur Athletic Union team.

The WNBA has a lot of future makers, up-and-comers: The Seattle Storm’s Breanna Stewart has a championship title, a league most valuable player award and a finals MVP to her name in just four years in the pros. A’ja Wilson entered the league in 2018, earned All-Star accolades twice and has her Vegas Aces poised for a 2020 title run. Ionescu, holder of the NCAA record for career triple-doubles will be drafted in April.

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Gianna Bryant, 13, dies in helicopter crash with father Kobe BryantGianna Bryant, 13, is among the dead in the helicopter crash that has killed her father, Kobe Bryant, and others. RIP 💔😭 Surreal. May peace be upon the souls that perished and help to the family members left behind 🙏🏾😢
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Jimmy Fallon pays heartbreaking tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter GiannaFallon first met Bryant over two decades ago, when the duo had first moved to Los Angeles, and had remained friends since. It was fantastic
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How Daytime TV Honored Kobe and Gianna Bryant: Wendy Williams, The View and More ReactThe View, The Wendy Williams Show, The Real and Tamron Hall all paid tribute to the late NBA superstar, his family and those lost in the crash. TooFab TooFab Wendy should be cancelled PERIOD! TooFab Nobody’s real on these shoes except Whoopi and you cnt cancel her
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Memorials honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant are popping up all over the worldA mural of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna appeared in LA less than 24 hours after they died in a tragic helicopter crash. Public memorials even appeared on the other side of the world. This is how Bryant and his daughter are being remembered by fans. It is so sad the lives that we're lost. Precious Little girls who still had so much left to do. So so sad. I Have 2 Daughters that plays basketball 15 and 12 this really hits your soul R.I.P. KOBE. RIP
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Celebrities Are Posting Touching Tributes for Kobe and Gianna Bryant
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Shaquille O’Neal’s Ex-Wife Shaunie Shares Photo of Kobe Bryant & Gianna from Final Game Before CrashKobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant shared a love of basketball and attended a game together the day before they died in a helicopter crash I'm confused bc a previous post stated that Shaq and Kobe's family and kids was close. But his daughters post suggests that they may not have been. 😪
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