Vanessa Bryant recently paid an emotional tribute to her late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, this came after the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies secured the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. According to Vanessa, Gigi, who tragically passed away alongside her dad in a helicopter crash, had always dreamed of playing for UConn one day.
You can view the tribute here
Remembering Gigi Bryant’s Dream
According to E! News. Vanessa shared how she knows Gigi would have loved seeing the Huskies’ victory, in a now-deleted Instagram post. The post included a photo of UConn’s legendary head coach, Geno Auriemma, and his team, with a letter Gigi had written after UConn’s 2017 Final Four loss. In the letter, Gigi wrote: “WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN’T, UCONN.” The powerful saying is even included on their Instagram bio.
UConn’s Special Tribute to Gigi Bryant
The bond between Gigi and UConn continues to go strong, and the team continues to honour her legacy and wishes as they even quickly acknowledged her mom’s post. UConn chose to honour her legacy by leaving a sit for her and placing her No. 2 jersey and flowers on the team’s bench, with the touching message: “Mambacita is forever a Husky.”
A Legacy That Lives On
This recent championship win, along with ongoing tributes, served as a reminder of the impact Gigi left on the basketball community. Even with her gone, her dream to play for UConn continues to inspire many and will never be forgotten. Here is what a few fans had to say:
@donnyg: “She would’ve been getting a ring too”
@haydenk444: “This is still so devastating all these years later”
@m.wayne: “That’s another thing that hurts we didn’t get to see GiGi blossom to her full potential 😢”
@bdoubleday_:” Damn man this really hurts my heart fr. Poor baby. RIP Kobe & Gigi and all the other lives lost that day. Love the gesture by UCONN. Respect 🤝”
@dirtysideknucks: “She definitely would’ve been a UConn champion 🕊️💙 Gigi 🙏🏽”
@sports_informer:” I can’t believe it’s been 5 years since they both passed away. I can guarantee you that Gigi Bryant would’ve been a top High School prospect in Women’s Basketball. RIP to Kobe and Gigi”
What do you think of Vanessa’s tribute to Gigi after UConn’s big win?