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Sabrina Ionescu Shared Sweet Moment With Bryant Family After Winning Gold Medal

Tom Dierberger

Sabrina Ionescu celebrates winning a gold medal with the Bryant family in Paris.
Sabrina Ionescu celebrates winning a gold medal with the Bryant family in Paris. / NBC
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Just a few moments after the final buzzer sounded at Bercy Arena on Sunday in the gold medal game as the United States secured a 67–66 win over France, Sabrina Ionescu walked right over to the courtside seats to greet a few special fans.

Ionescu leaned down to give a big hug and kiss to Bianka Bryant, the daughter of the late, great Kobe Bryant, before hugging the Los Angeles Lakers legend's wife Vanessa Bryant, who was holding her youngest daughter Capri.

The NBC broadcast captured the whole exchange for the basketball world to enjoy.

That's what the Olympics are all about.

Ionescu has been close to the Bryant family for years ever since Kobe and Gigi Bryant watched her play in a collegiate game between her Oregon Ducks and the USC Trojans in 2019. Ionescu worked out with the Bryants several times and remains in contact with the family after the tragic deaths of Kobe and Gigi in January 2020.

Ionescu didn't play much during the gold medal game but was efficient on the floor, tallying two rebounds and three assists in 10 minutes. She has won several international competitions in her playing career, including the 2022 World Cup in Australia, but the gold medal in Paris will go down as her first Olympic prize.

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Tom Dierberger

TOM DIERBERGER

Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.

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