Kobe Bryant's Widow, Vanessa Bryant, Shares Tear-Jerking Message on Gigi Bryant's 16th Birthday

Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, paid tribute to her late daughter, Gigi Bryant, in a series of Instagram posts on May 1 on what would have been her 16th birthday.

Vanessa's tribute to her late daughter read that she knew one thing was real from the first time her daughter imagined winning a WNBA championship, and it was that Gigi was special, E! Online reported.

Vanessa noted that Gigi "came from greatness, but it was never about what you inherited." She said it was about what Gigi gave to others, noting that when someone "stands up for gender equality," she can see her daughter fighting alongside them.

"And every time someone plays her hardest, I know that's you on the court. Love you always, Basketball," Vanessa concluded.

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Vanessa Bryant also posted a photo of her late daughter wearing a black shirt and high-heel boots on the basketball court with the caption: "Love you always! Happy Birthday, Gianna. #Mambacita"

Vanessa Bryant on Gigi Bryant's 16th Birthday

Vanessa Bryant announced two projects in honor of her late daughter's memory. According to Fox 11 Los Angeles, the proceeds will be going to the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation.

The nonprofit organization is known to be dedicated to creating a "positive impact for underserved athletes and boys and girls in sports."

Vanessa Bryant also restocked the MAMBACITA X DANNJO collection by popular demand. It was first released on Gigi's 15th birthday and immediately sold out.

Nike is also releasing the Kobe 6 Protro "Mambacita Sweet 16" shoe. In a press release, Nike said that its relationship with the Brant family would be on championing a "new generation of fans" while also urging youth to participate in sport.

John Donahoe, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc., said that Kobe Bryant meant so much to many of them, not just NBA fans but worldwide "beyond the game." The clothing line is now available, with the shoes scheduled to be released on May 1.

Kobe Bryant and Gigi Bryant's Death

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released 1,852 pages of factual evidence it gathered during its investigation in January last year.

According to USA Today, the report included interview transcripts, email records, text messages, photos, meteorological information, and video footage from cameras in the area.

At the time, Anthony Brickhouse, a former NTSB investigator, said the accident investigation was "really like putting the puzzle back together."

Brickhouse, now an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for aerospace safety, added that the investigation for this kind of situation does not happen overnight.

Kobe Bryant regularly traveled by helicopter during and after his NBA career, partly to avoid the traffic in Los Angeles. The helicopter involved in the crash was the exact vehicle that transported Bryant to his final game with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016.

The NTSB noted that the helicopter itself was part of its investigation, covering its maintenance records and physical evidence obtained at the crash site.

According to a preliminary report in 2020, the engines found near the wreckage showed "no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure."

The helicopter crash on January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California killed Kobe Bryant, their 13-year-old daughter, Gigi Bryant, and seven other individuals.

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Vanessa Bryant Unveils Nike Partnership, Sneaker Honors 16th Birthday of Late Daughter Gigi - From ABC7