Sabrina Ionescu Had One Word for Vanessa Bryant
Sabrina Ionescu Had One Word for Vanessa Bryant originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Toward the end of his legendary NBA career, Kobe Bryant adopted a new role amid the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles. Utilizing a wealth of experience forged through five NBA Finals wins, Bryant became a mentor for young men and women who grew up enraptured with the superstar scorer's "Mamba Mentality."
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Before Bryant died in 2020, he lent his expertise to many rising NBA stars, including Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard and Jayson Tatum. His influence extended to the WNBA. Diana Taurasi's "White Mamba" nickname came from Bryant himself, and he helped Jewell Loyd and Candace Parker become WNBA stars.
Though Bryant knew Sabrina Ionescu for only a year before his death, the New York Liberty star has done what she can to uphold the Lakers legend's legacy. She has maintained a close connection with his widow, Vanessa. So, on Thursday, when Vanessa Bryant posted a picture of herself on Instagram, Ionescu wasted no time reacting to it. She commented "Queen" on the post to affirm her presence and support.
Ionescu leaves a comment on Vanessa Bryant's Instagram post on Thursday.IG/vanessabryant
Ionescu met Bryant in January 2019, more than a year before she was picked first overall by the Liberty in the first round of the 2020 WNBA Draft. That summer, Ionescu worked out with Kobe and Gianna Bryant in preparation for her senior season at Oregon, where she became the first NCAA player ever to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 assists and 1,000 rebounds in a career.
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After an ankle injury limited her to three games as a WNBA rookie, Ionescu emerged as an All-Star in 2022 and established herself as one of the league's premier shooters. She played through a painful high-grade UCL tear in her shooting hand during the 2024 WNBA Finals, but her team held off the Minnesota Lynx to win its first title in franchise history, an accomplishment that Bryant would have been proud of.
Related: WNBA Makes Sabrina Ionescu Announcement After Liberty-Sky Game
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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