It’s hard not to get emotional seeing retired WNBA star Candace Parker coaching Bianka, the daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, in basketball.
Parker, a legendary figure in the WNBA who spent most of her career with the Los Angeles Sparks (the WNBA counterpart to Bryant’s Lakers), shared this heartwarming moment on Instagram. The post offers a glimpse into Parker’s post-retirement life.
The video includes highlights of Parker’s daughter Laila excelling in volleyball and her wife Anna Petrakova caring for their newborn son, Summitt.
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“Retired but I still stay in the GYM! Genes are wild! The next are ready to take center stage and I’m excited to be there on the sidelines cheering them on‼️‼️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥😈😈😈😈😈 Legacy Legacy Legacy Legacy!” Parker wrote. The post also featured seven-year-old Bianka Bella Bryant practicing her free throw form, with Parker providing guidance from under the basket.
On Instagram Stories, Parker added, “Look at the wrist loaded under the ball… on her toes… Basketball in her blood! #MiniMamba Aunty Candace is so proud of you BB.”
This moment is especially poignant given Kobe Bryant’s passion for the WNBA. As a father of four daughters, Kobe was a strong advocate for the women’s league.
Candace Parker told TNT in February, “We in the WNBA feel like Kobe was the person that uplifted our league.” Bryant’s daughter Gianna, who also loved basketball, tragically passed away with her father, preventing her from realizing her dream of playing professionally. Gianna, along with teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who also perished in the crash, were named honorary WNBA draftees.
Seeing Candace Parker and Bianka Bryant together on the court is truly heartwarming, and it’s okay to shed a tear over this touching scene.
