Entertainment Sports Vanessa Bryant Shares Photos of Kobe and Gianna to Celebrate His ‘Advocacy for Women’s Basketball’ Kobe and his family regularly attended Los Angeles Sparks games before his death, and the late NBA legend was a vocal advocate for women's basketball By Natasha Dye Natasha Dye Natasha Dye is a writer-reporter for PEOPLE covering sports. Her previous work appears in The New York Post and Popstar! Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 9, 2024 01:58PM EDT Close Kobe Bryant with his wife Vanessa and child Natalia watch the Los Angeles Sparks play the Sacramento Monarchs on August 16, 2005 . Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Vanessa Bryant is celebrating her late husband Kobe Bryant's dedication to supporting women's basketball as the world takes notice of its rapidly growing popularity. Vanessa, 41, shared a post to Instagram Stories from an account called LegendsOfSport, commending Kobe on his advocacy for women's basketball. The post included five photos of Kobe at various sporting events, including one shot of the former Laker posing with Magic Johnson and retired Los Angeles Sparks star, Lisa Leslie. The post's caption began by quoting Kobe, who once said, "The @wnba is a beautiful game to watch.”"For this week’s #MambaMondays, we’re showcasing Kobe Bryant’s advocacy for women’s basketball," the post continued. "Congratulations to all of the women who put on an excellent tournament this year!" Vanessa left six red hearts in the comments of the post and shared three images from the carousel to her Instagram Stories. Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Lisa Leslie #9 of the Los Angeles Sparks and former Los Angeles Lakers guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson pose for a photo during the Radio Schack Shooting Stars competition on All-Start Saturday Night during 2006 All-Star Weekend February 18, 2006. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Vanessa Bryant Gives Emotional Speech at Kobe Bryant Statue Unveiling: 'This Moment Isn't Just for Kobe, But It's for All of You' Two of the photos she shared included shots of her and Kobe with their daughters sitting courtside at Los Angeles Sparks games. The Bryant family supported Los Angeles's women's team in the 2016 WNBA Finals as the Sparks took on the Minnesota Lynx. NBA Legend Kobe Bryant is seen during the game between the Minnesota Lynx and the Los Angeles Sparks during Game Four of the 2016 WNBA Finals on October 16, 2016. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty The third was an image of Kobe and Gianna at a Dec. 19 Lakers game, which tragically ended up being their last appearance at Los Angeles's iconic Staples Center. The arena has since been renamed the Crypto.com Arena. In the photo, Kobe is wearing an orange WNBA hoodie to show his support for the women's league as he talks with Gianna, a budding basketball star herself. Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks on December 29, 2019. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty On April 15, the WNBA will hold its 2024 draft and college stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Cameron Brink will enter the league after bringing record-breaking viewership numbers to the women's tournament this year. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Shortly before the devastating helicopter crash that took Kobe and Gianna's lives, the beloved NBA legend told The Los Angeles Times he thinks several of the WNBA's stars could play in the NBA with the men. “I think there are a couple of players who could play in the NBA right now, honestly,” Bryant said at the time. “There’s a lot of players that have a lot of skill that could do it.” In the 2020 WNBA draft, commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Gianna and her Mamba Academy teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who also died in the crash, as honorary draftees. “These athletes represented the future of the WNBA,” Englebert said of the girls. “Players who were following their passion, acquiring knowledge of the game, strengthening skills that were way beyond their years. They represent the next generation of stars in our league.”