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Kobe Bryant leaves lasting impact on women’s basketball

Connecticut players and US National players stand for a 24 second shot-clock violation to honor Kobe Bryant during an exhibition basketball game in the first half of a basketball game, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Connecticut players and US National players stand for a 24 second shot-clock violation to honor Kobe Bryant during an exhibition basketball game in the first half of a basketball game, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

By DOUG FEINBERG / Associated Press Basketball Writer 6 min read

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Kobe Bryant always had an interest in women’s basketball, one that he shared with many in the sport even before his daughter Gianna started excelling at the game.

Whether it was mentoring players like Diana Taurasi, Jewell Loyd and Sabrina Ionescu or working out with Gabby Williams and Katie Lou Samuelson, Bryant routinely gave of himself to help them improve their games.

But he had only scratched the surface.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma believes that Bryant’s biggest contributions to women’s basketball were in front of him before the NBA great and his daughter were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday.

“I don’t think he got a chance to really establish (a legacy) in our game,” Auriemma said. “The next 30 years, he might have. The next generation of kids who knew his daughter and played with Gigi. He gets involved at a whole another level. He was just getting started.”