Kobe Bryant is pictured with his daughter Gianna at the WNBA All Star Game at Mandalay Bay Events Center, in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jul 27, 2019. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)
Vanessa Bryant paid tribute to her daughter Gianna on May 1 on what would have been her 14th birthday.
Kobe Bryant with his wife Vanessa and daughter Gianna prepare to watch the final night of swimming at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, on Aug. 4, 2012. (Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)
Her mother posted a photo showing her daughter smiling and sporting Mickey Mouse gear. She wrote, “Happy 14th Birthday to my sweet baby girl, Gianna.”
“Mommy loves you more than I can ever show you. You are part of MY SOUL forever,” Bryant wrote. “I miss you so much everyday. I wish I could wake up and have you here with me. I miss your smile, your hugs and your giggles. I miss EVERYTHING about YOU, Gigi. I LOVE YOU so much!!!!!!!”
Like her dad, Gianna was a talented basketball player and was known as Mambacita, a Spanish-language spin on her father’s famous nickname, Black Mamba.
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Western Conference warms up with daughter Gianna Bryant during the NBA All-Star Game 2016 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 14, 2016. (Elsa/Getty Images)
