Vanessa Bryant marked April 18 with the same steady devotion she’s shown since tragedy rewrote her love story five years ago. On what would have been her and Kobe Bryant’s 24th wedding anniversary, the 42-year-old widow posted a single photo from the 2001 Rush Hour 2 premiere
“#24. #Anniversary ❤️ @kobebryant 4/18/01.”
The couple’s timeline reads like a Hollywood montage. They met on a music-video set in 1999, were engaged six months later, and—despite front-office grumbling—exchanged vows on April 18, 2001, at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church before just 12 guests. Four daughters followed: Natalia, now 22; Gianna, forever 13; Bianka, 8; and Capri, 5. When a helicopter crash claimed Kobe and Gianna on Jan. 26, 2020, Vanessa assumed guardianship of a legacy that transcends basketball.
She has embraced that role with purpose. The Mamba Sports Foundation became Mamba & Mambacita, putting girls’ athletics front-and-center. A Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award now honors champions of the women’s game. In August 2024, the Lakers and Vanessa unveiled the “Girl Dad” statue outside Crypto.com Arena—a courtside hug frozen in bronze. And on Aug. 19 she’ll release Mamba & Mambacita Forever, a coffee-table book gathering more than 100 murals painted worldwide, timed just ahead of Kobe Bryant Day. People.com
Through each project, Vanessa keeps the focus on love, mentorship, and opportunity—the same principles that powered Kobe’s post-NBA life. Her anniversary post needed no flowery caption because the symbolism was enough: 24 years, No. 24, one enduring bond. For Lakers Nation and anyone who’s lost a cornerstone, the message is clear: grief endures, but so does devotion.
In a social feed crowded by oversharing, Vanessa’s restraint stands out. One hashtag, one photo, one legacy—proof that a love story can outlast the final buzzer.
