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

Nike is the king of basketball sneakers, thanks in large part to the partnership that the brand developed with Michael Jordan. But Jordan isn’t to only basketball star who has scored a deal with Nike.

I remember, first, the fog. Sitting in the back of a cab headed down from my foothills home to LAX early on the morning of Jan. 26,

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. “I think one of the first things he told me was that I could play defence,

Many WNBA players believe Kobe Bryant would be pleased with the overall progress of women’s sports, which have skyrocketed in popularity and reach in recent years.

Fantasy women's basketball rankings for 2025 with A'ja Wilson, Caitlyn Clark and Breanna Stewart as the top 3.