Five years after NBA great Kobe Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in California, several women’s basketball players reflected on what he meant to t

Kobe was a hooper. And his aura, validation and embrace extended immeasurably into women’s hoops. He confirmed they are hoopers, too. He was an advocate for them to reach the mainstream of sports fandom. He shared in their belief of worthiness. His value to them and their game is unquestioned. Though he’s gone, they still feel it.

Bryant ‘really was that loud voice and very prominent voice very early when it maybe wasn’t the trendy, popular thing to do or wasn’t cool to show us love,’ Lunar Owls veteran Skylar Diggins-Smith said.