New York Liberty Star and WNBA Champion Sabrina Ionescu looked back at the lost potential of Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, daughter of her mentor figure and influence Kobe Bryant.
In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Sabrina Ionescu, who was then a point guard for the Oregon Ducks, proudly talked about the potential of Gigi Bryant to make waves in the WNBA.
“Gigi had so much of her dad’s skill set,” Ionescu said back then. “You could tell the amount of hours they spent in the gym, practicing her moves. She smiled all the time, but when it was game time, she was ready to kill. Her demeanor changed almost instantly when the whistle blew.”
“If I represented the present of the women’s game, Gigi was the future, and Kobe knew it,” she added.
Gigi Bryant showed immense potential in basketball from a young age, following in her father Kobe Bryant’s footsteps. She was known for her dedication, skill, and passion for the game, often training with Kobe and learning from his expertise. Gigi aspired to play in the WNBA and was already making waves in youth basketball tournaments, showcasing her talent and leadership on the court.
Tragically, her promising future was cut short when she and Kobe passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020. The accident claimed the lives of all nine passengers, leaving the sports world and fans devastated. Gigi’s untimely death marked the loss of a rising star whose potential and dreams could never fully flourish.
Sabrina Ionescu Wants 4-Point Line for The WNBA
Sabrina Ionescu visited Manila, Philippines, as part of her tour for her sports brand deal. During her tour, she was exposed to the four-point line that the local basketball league implements. Finding it interesting and a source of added competitiveness, the WNBA champion expressed her desire to have this mechanic brought to the WNBA.
“I think we need to bring that to the WNBA. That’s exciting,” Ionescu said to reporters. “It’s an exciting part of the game. I think it changes the game, continuing to push people to want to be better, to shoot from there so that’s really exciting. I think that’s kind of the fun part of basketball, you can continue to improve and change it.”
WATCH: Sabrina Ionescu just found out about the #PBA’s four-point line today and she already likes the idea of bringing the idea to the #WNBA. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/Mpgh1xvJf4
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 11, 2025
Sabrina Ionescu had an outstanding 2024 WNBA season with the New York Liberty. She averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. Her shooting efficiency included a 40.5% field goal percentage, 36.4% from three-point range, and an impressive 90.6% on the free-throw line.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
