WNBA announce plans for advocacy award named after the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant

At last nights annual WNBA draft, the league announced their intention to introduce the Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, named after the late Kobe Bryant who was incredibly passionate about women’s basketball at all levels and his daughter Gianna, who already looked to be a great talent at only 13 years old and looked poised to flourish in the WNBA under the tutelage of her father and last nights number one overall pick for the New York Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu.

In an emotional tribute video played during the broadcast of last nights draft, UCONN women’s head coach Geno Auriemma described Kobe as ‘the greatest ally that this sport could ever, ever hope for’.

Former WNBA Rookie of the Year Chiney Ogwumike and Ionescu also emphasised Kobe’s legendary work ethic and noted that although many saw it only ‘through the lens of basketball’, Kobe also wanted to be the best father he could be and the best head coach possible to the young athletes he was mentoring at MAMBA Sports Academy.

Following the video, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the introduction of the Kobe and Gigi Bryant Advocacy Award, stating that ‘this award will recognise an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the visibility, perception and advancement to women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels’.

Along with the award, Engelbert announced that the league and their partners would make a charitable contribution in the recipient’s name ‘to further advance the game’.

After last nights WNBA draft broadcast, the WNBA published an official release, elaborating more on the award. The release revealed that the award would be presented each year during the NBA All-Star weekend, with the inaugural recipient being honoured at next year’s All-Star weekend in Indianapolis and Kobe’s wife and Gianna’s mother, Vanessa Bryant would play ‘a large role in determining the honouree and presenting the award each year at NBA All-Star’.

In addition to the award, prior to the reading of the nights official draft picks, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert also announced that Gianna along with her two teammates that also unfortunately lost their lives, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester would be made honorary draft selections, giving each player a traditional introduction as images of jerseys, sporting the girls’ surnames were presented.