Vanessa Bryant looks on during a game.Vanessa Bryant (Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images)
When the UConn women’s basketball team clinched the national title Sunday night with an 82–59 win over South Carolina, one proud fan watched from afar with a whole heart, and a broken one. Vanessa Bryant, widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, took to Instagram to honor her late daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, who had once dreamed of wearing a Huskies jersey.

“Gigi would’ve loved being there with you,” Vanessa wrote in a post celebrating UConn’s dominant win in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. She ended her message with one of Gigi’s favorite quotes: “When you think you can’t, UCONN.”

The post was accompanied by a congratulatory graphic and two emojis- a broken heart and a full one. The moment poignantly reminded everyone of the 13-year-old’s unfulfilled dream to play for one of women’s basketball’s top programs.

Courtside Tribute To A Lifelong Dream

Vanessa Bryant’s tribute (Photo Via Instagram/@vanessabryant)

UConn always held a special place in Gianna’s heart. Even when UCLA alum Reggie Miller encouraged Kobe Bryant to nudge his daughter toward the Bruins, the answer remained firm. “She is hellbent on going to UConn,” Kobe told Miller in 2018, according to journalist Arash Markazi.

The Huskies recognized that passion early on. In the days after the tragic 2020 helicopter crash that killed Gigi, Kobe, and seven others, UConn honored her by placing a customized No. 2 jersey on their bench during a game. “Mambacita is forever a Husky,” they wrote in a tribute.

Following Sunday’s win, UConn star Paige Bueckers reflected on the emotional weight of the moment. “There have been times this whole weekend… that God has really shown himself,” she said. Bueckers noted that her mother had stayed in Room 824- Kobe’s two jersey numbers- adding, “It feels like Kobe and Gigi are watching over us.”

Gigi, who inherited her father’s love and intensity for the game, had been a key player on Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy team. Though her journey was cut short, her spirit remains deeply woven into the fabric of women’s basketball especially at UConn.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’