Dearica Hamby still smiles at the memory of Kobe Bryant sitting courtside at WNBA games.

She had met him years ago. He came to see her old team, the Las Vegas Aces, play all the time.

香蕉视频直播淚 think one of the first things he told me was that I could play defense,香蕉视频直播� Hamby recalled. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I was kind of like 香蕉视频直播榃ha-at?香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� That香蕉视频直播檚 something I香蕉视频直播檒l cherish with me forever.香蕉视频直播�

That epitomized the late NBA great香蕉视频直播檚 relationship with the women香蕉视频直播檚 game. After his 20-year playing career ended, Bryant turned his focus to the next generation, mentoring some of women香蕉视频直播檚 basketball香蕉视频直播檚 biggest stars, from WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi to former Oregon star Sabrina Ionescu.

He worked out with them, analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of their game and pushed for them to reach the same heights in popularity that he and his NBA peers did.

For Hamby, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, Bryant saw an aspect of her game she didn香蕉视频直播檛 even know she had.

香蕉视频直播淚f Kobe tells you you can play defense, you can play defense,香蕉视频直播� she quipped.

Five years after Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in Calabasas, California, several women香蕉视频直播檚 basketball players reflected on what he meant to their game and how he championed it. Many of them thought Bryant would be pleased with the overall progress of women香蕉视频直播檚 sports, which have in recent years.

That growth has been most prominent in the women香蕉视频直播檚 basketball arenas that Bryant and Gianna loved so much.

The WNBA last season had its most-watched regular season in 24 years and its best attendance in 22 seasons. Some of the league香蕉视频直播檚 most popular players currently are competing in a new in South Florida called Unrivaled, founded by Olympic gold medalists Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

香蕉视频直播淲e carry this on for him,香蕉视频直播� said Satou Sabally, a forward with the WNBA香蕉视频直播檚 Dallas Wings who plays for the Phantom squad in Unrivaled. 香蕉视频直播淗e would be so proud of this league. He would be proud of 香蕉视频直播橮he and Stewie. I know that he香蕉视频直播檚 looking down and hopefully he香蕉视频直播檚 smiling and is proud of us.香蕉视频直播�

Sabally said she still gets emotional when she thinks of that day on Jan. 26, 2020. It reminds her of her playing days at Oregon, when she, Ionescu and their Ducks teammates connected over Bryant.

香蕉视频直播淚 think about 香蕉视频直播� how we all bonded together over Kobe and how we bonded together for the rest of our lives because he was so impactful,香蕉视频直播� Sabally added. 香蕉视频直播淗e was really a person that saw us women as the talents who we are. He came to the games, he was so outspoken and he really was really supportive.香蕉视频直播�

The shock of the superstar香蕉视频直播檚 death echoed throughout the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to social media to post emotional tributes to Bryant while expressing their disbelief.

People were glued to their phones and TV screens as news of the crash spread. NBA players were in tears ahead of games that day.

香蕉视频直播淚 still remember exactly where I was whenever we heard the news,香蕉视频直播� said Kate Martin of the Golden State Valkyries, playing for Laces BC at Unrivaled, 香蕉视频直播渁nd no one really knew if it was fake or real. I think that香蕉视频直播檚 just one of those things where you香蕉视频直播檙e just always going to remember exactly where you were when you heard that.香蕉视频直播�

Martin never met Bryant but said she cherishes his mentality 香蕉视频直播� he had a relentless competitiveness 香蕉视频直播� and the way he elevated women香蕉视频直播檚 sports.

Bryant became heavily involved with his daughters香蕉视频直播� hoops journeys and coached Gianna香蕉视频直播檚 youth team. He was often at women香蕉视频直播檚 basketball games, especially college ones, with Gianna, who was fascinated with the UConn Huskies. Gianna was in line to further Bryant香蕉视频直播檚 legacy on the court. The plan was for her to attend Connecticut, and surely the WNBA was next.

Bryant was passionate about women香蕉视频直播檚 sports despite the belief of some that he should not have been involved with the women香蕉视频直播檚 game at all because of a 2003 charge accusing him of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort.

Bryant had said the two had consensual sex, and the charge was eventually dropped when the woman declined to testify at trial. The woman later filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court.

There香蕉视频直播檚 an image that still circulates in the sports world today: Kobe and Gianna sitting courtside at a 2019 game featuring his Los Angeles Lakers. He wore a bright orange pullover with a white WNBA logo on the front. Gianna sat beaming at his side.

香蕉视频直播淚 think a lot of people started to follow behind Kobe because he recognized our gift and our talent and how special it really is,香蕉视频直播� said former Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the current coach of Unrivaled香蕉视频直播檚 Vinyl BC. 香蕉视频直播淎nd his daughter was right there as well.香蕉视频直播�

That香蕉视频直播檚 who Bryant had become 香蕉视频直播� a face of women香蕉视频直播檚 sports advocacy.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 greatly missed,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut now his legacy will live on forever.香蕉视频直播�