KOBE BRYANT, DAUGHTER ATTENDED WNBA GAMES IN VEGAS

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NBA great Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died together in a helicopter crash on Sunday, attended WNBA games in Las Vegas last year.

Gianna had inherited her father’s passion for basketball.

They were courtside for the Las Vegas Aces’ opening WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Mandalay Bay Events Center in late May. Brianna’s AAU teammates accompanied her at the game. Gianna, known as Gigi, was the second oldest of Bryant’s four daughters. They also attended the WNBA All-Star game at Mandalay Bay..

Bryant and Gianna were on their way to a team practice near Thousand Oaks at Mamba Sports Academy. Bryant coached the team. One of Gianna’s teammates and a parent of the unidentified girl were among the nine passengers who died in the crash on a hillside in Calabasas, northeast of Malibu.

They had left John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana about 9 a.m., flying west along the 5 Freeway. The crash was reported at 9:47 a.m.  Weather conditions were described as cloudy and foggy.

Bryant, who spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers, starting at the age of 18, turned 41 on August 23. She was a student at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth.

Bryant started coaching Gianna’s middle school team after his retirement from the NBA in 2016.

Bryant was quoted in 2018  as saying that Gianna was “hellbent” on playing for NCAA women’s powerhouse Connecticut.