UConn Pays Tribute to Gigi, Kobe Bryant Ahead of Exhibition vs. Team USA

UConn paid tribute to the death of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna ahead of its exhibition against Team USA.

Ahead of UConn's Monday night exhibition against Team USA, the Huskies paid tribute to the death Kobe Bryant, Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the other seven people who died in Sunday's helicopter crash. 

Gianna, known by many as Gigi, told her father she wanted to play for UConn. The Huskies honored her Monday night with her own jersey. 

UConn honoring Gigi and Kobe with flowers and a jersey on the bench tonight for matchup vs. Team USA. pic.twitter.com/K1osgAYjRU

— Laken Litman (@LakenLitman) January 27, 2020

There was a 24-second moment of silence before tipoff and the teams took intentional violations to open the game, to honor Bryant.

24-second moment of silence before USA vs. UConn pic.twitter.com/dqSJo6Jdxh

— Laken Litman (@LakenLitman) January 28, 2020

News of the death of Kobe and his daughter produced a wave of shock throughout the sports world. Team USA forward, and UConn alum Breanna Stewart, was sitting in the hallway of her hotel on Sunday, looking at her phone, when she learned of the news. 

Stewart said, "This can’t be true. This can’t be true," according to Sports Illustrated's Laken Litman. 

According to Litman, Stewart quickly received countless texts from family and friends: “Did you see what happened with Kobe?"

Tonight just means more...

Kobe
Gianna
John
Keri
Alyssa
Sarah
Payton
Ara
Christina pic.twitter.com/lY86B0nMVF

— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) January 27, 2020

Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli and his daughter, Alyssa, and wife, Keri, were also aboard the helicopter that crashed and killed nine people

The helicopter went down in the hills of Calabasas and a fire broke out. The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time and the fire made it difficult for firefighters and emergency personnel to get to the aircraft, according to the city of Calabasas. Nobody on the ground was hurt.

The Lakers have not played since Bryant's death. The NBA announced Monday evening that Tuesday night's game against the Clippers would be postponed and rescheduled for a later date.

Stewart, the 2018 WNBA MVP, missed all of the 2019 season after rupturing her right Achilles tendon last April during the EuroLeague championship game. She is making her first appearance in game action on Monday.

More Coverage of Kobe Bryant's Death:

• Kobe Bryant, Daughter Die in California Helicopter Crash
• For the Bryant Family, An Unimaginable Loss
• Kobe Bryant Left His Mark as a Generational Hero
• Sports World Reacts to Kobe Bryant's Sudden Death
• Remembering Kobe Bryant: Sports Illustrated Covers Through the Years
• Spurs-Raptors Open Game With Shot Clock Violations to Honor Kobe
  
• Shaq Reflects on Kobe's Passing: "There’s No Words to Express the Pain"