Kobe Bryant's Daughter Bianka, 7, Throws First Pitch at Dodgers Game Honoring the Late NBA Legend

Mar. 15, 2025

Vanessa Bryant and daughter Bianka at the Los Angeles Dodgers' game on Aug. 25, 2024.Photo:John McCoy/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Vanessa Bryant walks her daughter Bianca Bryant, the daughter of former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, walk out to throw the first pitch before a MLB baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays

John McCoy/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Kobe Bryant’s daughterBiankahad a very special job to do at a Los Angeles Dodgers game honoring her late father.

Vanessa, 42 — along with her daughters Natalia, 21, Bianka and Capri, 5 — all wore matching Dodgers jerseys that had No. 24 on the back in honor of Kobe, whodied in a helicopter crashin 2020 at age 41, along with 13-year-old daughterGianna.

Later on Sunday, Vanessa shared a series ofphoto and video highlightsfrom the game on Instagram, writing: “Thank you@dodgersfor supporting our@mambamambacitasportsfoundation. L.A. Love 🙏🏽💜💛 💙🤍.”

She also shareda photoof Bianka posing next to Betts, 31, with a big smile on her face.

This isn’t the first time a Bryant has thrown out the first pitch at a Dodgers game. InSeptember 2023, Natalia took the mound at Dodgers Stadium. Almost 25 years earlier,Kobe threw the first pitchat a Dodgers game in June 2000.

Attendees at the Aug. 25 baseball event received special-edition Kobe jerseys to celebrate the Los Angeles sports icon just days after what would have been his 46th birthday.

The jersey’s design is meant to honor the “Black Mamba” with snake print and gold and black coloring and both of his iconic numbers — 8 and 24 — on either side.

From left: Natalia, Vanessa, Capri and Bianka Bryant at Dodgers Stadium.John McCoy/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Natalia, left, her mother Vanessa and Capri Bryant, Bianca is hidden behind Capri, take photos before the start of a MLB baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in LOS ANGELES, CA -

The tribute event also falls on the day after the city’s Kobe Bryant Day, which was officially declared as Aug. 24 in Los Angeles and Orange County. Events in honor of the late basketball star also took place that day at Dodgers Stadium.

On Saturday, the Dodgers gave fans who attended the game Showtime Lakers T-shirts and a complimentary cartoon design of the legendary Lakers wearing Dodgers uniforms.

Lakers legendsMichael Cooper, A.C. Green, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott, Mychal Thompson and James Worthy also made an appearance for a pre-game ceremony and threw out the first pitch.

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The Kobe-themed night is one of many ways the city of Los Angeles continues to honor the late basketball star’s legacy and comes just weeks after anew statue of the Lakers greatwas unveiled downtown.

From left: Natalia, Capri and Bianka Bryant at Dodgers Stadium.John McCoy/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Natalia, left, hugs her sister Capri Bryant as Bianca Bryant looks on. They are the surviving family of former Lakers star Kobe Bryant, seen before the start of a MLB baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in LOS ANGELES

The statue depicts Kobe with his arm around Gianna and angel wings in the background, and honors “the Bryant family’s support for women and girls in sports,” according to a statement published onthe Lakers' website.

“The tribute represents Kobe and Gianna’s exceptional basketball legacy and the uplifting relationship Kobe shared with all four of his daughters,” the statement added.

source: people.com

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