Caitlin Clark shared a touching moment with Kobe Bryant’s family during halftime at tonight’s WNBA All-Star Game.
Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, along with her three daughters, were courtside at Footprint Center to watch stars like Clark and Angel Reese in action.
The tragic helicopter crash that claimed Kobe’s life, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, happened four years ago. Kobe is survived by Vanessa, 42, and their children: Natalia, 21, Bianka, 7, and Capri, 5. All four members of his immediate family attended the game in Phoenix, where Team USA faced off against Team WNBA.
At halftime, Clark, this year’s No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft, approached the Bryant family. She shared a warm moment with Vanessa and her daughters, highlighting the emotional connection between the new generation of basketball stars and the legacy of one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Clark and fellow rookie sensation Angel Reese teamed up on the WNBA roster for the game, putting aside their intense rivalry to compete against US Olympic stars. The other side featured superstar names like A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Diana Taurasi.
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Kobe Bryant, widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, had been married to Vanessa for two decades at the time of his death. The couple began dating in 1999 after meeting on the set of a music video. They got engaged shortly after Vanessa turned 18 and married in 2001.
Kobe and Gianna were among nine people who perished when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, in January 2020. They were en route to Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks from John Wayne Airport near their home in Newport Beach when the accident occurred.
This week, Vanessa Bryant expressed her condolences following the death of Kobe’s father, Joe Bryant, who passed away at 69 after suffering a stroke. Vanessa paid tribute on Instagram, seemingly reflecting on the strained relationship between Kobe and his parents.
“Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing,” she wrote. “We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much. Our prayers go out to family.”
Joe Bryant’s relationship with Kobe became strained as the Lakers legend built his Hall of Fame career. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Joe never spoke publicly about his son’s death. Earlier this year, the 2000 NBA title ring gifted to Joe by Kobe sold for $927,000 at auction. In 2016, Kobe revealed that he hadn’t spoken to his parents in almost three years after they attempted to auction off his high school memorabilia without his consent.
As the WNBA All-Star Game continues, the presence of the Bryant family and the tribute from Caitlin Clark serve as a poignant reminder of Kobe Bryant’s enduring impact on the world of basketball.
The legacy he left behind continues to inspire new generations of athletes, underscoring the deep bonds and heartfelt connections that define the sport.
