The offseason is buzzing with excitement, especially with the debut of the new league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. It’s a golden opportunity for WNBA players to stay active and make money during the break. Sabrina Ionescu is making the most of it, grinding through intense practice sessions to fine-tune her skills for another competitive run this year. But even amidst her busy schedule, Sabrina found a moment to celebrate someone special.

She took to Instagram to wish Kobe Bryant’s daughter, Natalia Bryant, a heartfelt happy birthday. Posting a picture of herself hugging Natalia, she simply captioned it, “Birthday Queen.”

The genuine bond they shared was clear, and it looked like Sabrina was giving back some of the love Natalia had always shown her. Kobe Bryant’s daughter has been a vocal supporter of women’s sports and often champions Sabrina’s achievements. After the New York Liberty’s big win last season, Natalia shared several portraits of Sabrina and wrote, “So proud of you Sab,” with a heart emoji. The pictures captured Sabrina’s victorious moments, highlighting the strong friendship between them.

This bond isn’t new—it goes back years. It started when Sabrina stood by the Bryant family after the tragic loss of Kobe and Gigi Bryant.

Even today, Sabrina Ionescu keeps Kobe’s legacy alive in her game and her mindset

Last season, Sabrina opened up about the impact of the Mamba Mentality, Kobe’s philosophy for achieving success. She shared how it helped her stay calm under pressure, leading to some of her most clutch performances.

“He’s always with me,” Sabrina told ESPN about Kobe. “The lessons that he taught me, that Mamba Mentality. And going into that shot, I was like, ‘All right. This is what I have to do.’ You know what he always preached was just continue to be myself, believe in the work that I put in, and go out and take it, and that’s exactly what I did.”

Sabrina’s connection with the Bryant family runs deep. It began when Kobe and Gigi cheered her on during her college basketball days. The mutual admiration grew stronger over time, and even now, Sabrina makes it a point to stay close to the Bryants.

After Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris, Sabrina was having an emotional moment with Bryant’s family. She kissed Bianca, one of the youngest members, on the head, and embraced Vanessa and Natalia. The scene, captured on camera, was a testament to their enduring bond.

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Now, Sabrina is gearing up for her next game on January 20th against Vinyl BC. Fans are left wondering: Can she honor Natalia Bryant’s birthday with a victory? Stay tuned to find out!