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The Bryant women are back in the news! In the USC-UCLA game, the mother-daughter duo didn’t miss cheering for the Trojans. Their love and passion for elevating women’s basketball were admirable. And how can they not be passionate when they belong to the Bryant family? Ah, we all miss Kobe and his daughter Gigi. And the family misses them too. Vanessa Bryant paid a heartwarming tribute to the ‘girl dad’ Kobe and her daughter Gigi, as Vanessa was there to support the USC in the clash.

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Natalia Bryant, the oldest daughter, who is also a USC film student, accompanied the mother to the game. While the mother of four wore a bright red USC sweater, the model wore a similar red-colored top paired with black jeans. And for the shoes, Vanessa had ‘exclusive shoes’ in mind. But guess the significance of her shoes? She made her ‘biasness‘ pretty clear!

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Her shoes appeared similar to the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Sail All-Star’ that Watkins wore. But Bryant’s version had a slight difference. Hers featured a USC-inspired colorway with a white snakeskin-textured upper. The red swoosh and gold accents paid homage to the Trojans, while the Los Angeles Lakers legend’s logo rested on the tongue. And right around the corner, No. 24 could be seen emblazoned on the shoe. 

Vanessa also shared them in her IG story as well as in a carousel post with “✌🏻’ emoji. Kobe Bryant would have loved being there, rooting together with the family for the young champ. 
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Feb 13, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans guard JuJu Watkins (12) reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Galen Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

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“Fight On” Vanessa captioned the post along with a victory sign and heart emojis. And Watkins, as usual, was in high spirits, notching up a win. The lady then in a post included a few snippets showcasing Watkins’ skills at the game from the Galen Center. Impressed, of course. The first slide is a selfie where Vanessa posed with Natalia and the businessman, Michael Rubin. The mother-daughter duo surely enjoyed the win!

Ju Ju Watkins’ drops scorching 38-point performance

Offensive or defensive, Watkins has never shied away from being the best. She had eight blocks, which were crucial in leading USC in the third quarter. She dropped a powerful game-high 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the team to a 71-60 victory against the UCLA Bruins. Insane! Nobody was even close to the USC jersey no. 12.

It was a star-studded crowd for sure. Kevin Hart, LA Sparks star Kelsey Plum, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, and more attended. With that, it’s clear that all eyes are on Watkins. And the benchmark for her is so high that everybody knew she will deliver. And she did! The 19-year-old talent is averaging 23.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game and is also the top favorite for the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year.

But what made the night different? A pair of shoes. While the Kobe family came prepared to root for her, the 19-year-old reciprocated the same. She wore the Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Sail All-Star,’ featuring the same snakeskin texture as Vanessa’s shoes. Watkins’ pair had black accents with stars embossed on them. If you walk Kobe’s path, you taste success. Let’s not jinx it! Her team will face the Washington Huskies next. Catch up the action for another Watkins’ greatness.

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Md Saba Ahmed

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