Vanessa Bryant thanked the WNBA in a passionate speech for drafting Gianna

“Thank you for honoring my little girl.”

The WNBA is holding it’s annual draft on Friday night and it started with an emotional moment when commissioner Cathy Engelbert kicked off the draft with three honorary picks – Alyssa Altobelli, Payton Chester, and Gianna Bryant, who were all killed in a tragic helicopter crash last January.

Gianna and her dad, Kobe Bryant, who was also lost in that tragedy, were huge fans of the WNBA and would often go games together, break down film, and work on moves that Gianna would use in her own games.

Vanessa Bryant, while wearing Kobe’s WNBA hoodie, thanked the league for honoring her daughter:

“It would have been a dream come true for her. She worked tirelessly every single day. She wanted to be one of the greatest athletes of all-time, just like her daddy. So thank you, thank you for honoring my little girl.
“This is his sweatshirt. Thank you. I want to congratulate all of this year’s draft picks. So congratulations, work hard. Never settle. Use that Mamba Mentality.”
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Here’s Engelbert’s tribute:

Nicely done by the WNBA.