“No, I was going to work out with them this summer, and I knew they really liked UConn, so I was hoping to build a relationship with them.” Paige Bueckers once stated about meeting Kobe Bryant and Gianna before their unfortunate passing. Over the years, we have heard many WNBA players credit the Lakers legend for being a strong advocate of women’s basketball. For the current Huskies star, even though she did not meet Kobe, the bond is everlasting.
“There have been times this whole weekend and throughout the whole tournament that I feel like God has really shown himself and my mom staying in room 824, which are both of Kobe’s numbers and stuff like that.” In the post game conference after the finals, the senior guard candidly expressed divine intervention. Plus, she called the year as “blessed” one.
“I mean, win or lose, it’s been a very blessed year, but I feel like God’s presence has really been showing out. And in little things you just see his presence, so palpable, and so I feel like a lot of that too.”
Paige Bueckers also expressed that she lost her friend Abby. Not only that, but former teammate Amaya Battle’s mother, who was a family friend also passed away. But the senior guard felt their presence along with that of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. “Is yes, Kobe’s watching over us, Gigi’s watching over us, Abby, Stephanie Battle, and everybody. I felt their presence for sure.”
Paige Bueckers was asked if she’s thought about that Gigi Bryant could have been on this team. She says that there have been a lot of things this week where she’s felt that connection, including her mom staying in room 824.
“God’s presence has really been showing out”@UConnWBB pic.twitter.com/8xZ4EqUCgL
— Claire Foley (@clairefoleytv) April 6, 2025
Kobe Bryant previously proudly explained how his daughter was “hellbent on UConn.” At just 13, her passion mirrored that of her father. The Huskies knew what it meant for Gigi to don the threads proudly. Shortly after her passing, they even honored her with a No. 2 Huskies jersey on the bench. Alongside it sat white roses and a note that read, “Mambacita is forever a Husky.”
During Paige Bueckers’ adversity, she found hope in Kobe Bryant
As stated earlier, the consensus 2025 WNBA draft pick never met the 5x NBA champion. But the inspiration and ability to perform like Kobe was one factor that the Hopkins alum wanted to do. Her path in UConn wasn’t straightforward, as it was marred with various injuries. A tibial plateau fracture as a sophomore and a torn ACL in her junior year kept her on the sidelines.
“When this injury first happened, I thought a lot about Kobe,” Paige Bueckers said with ESPN. “I read *The Mamba Mentality* book and how he looked at his injury as another way to prove people wrong.” Despite the early setbacks, the 23-year-old is now a NCAA champion, alongside being the 3rd all time leading scorer in the NCAA tournament.
Even Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, shared the UConn win on her social media with a Gigi message. ’When you think you can’t, UCONN’ ~ Gianna Bryant .” She added, “Gigi would’ve loved being there with you. Congratulations @genoauriemma @uconnwbb.” As Paige Bueckers stated, their presence made the season a fairytale one as she now looks ahead at her WNBA career.
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