The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) started its 2020 virtual draft on Friday night by announcing its honorary picks, which included Gianna 'Gigi' Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January, along with her father, NBA superstar Kobe Bryant. 

Gigi was declared as one of the honorary picks, along with her teammates, Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli, who also died in the crash. 

Vanessa, Gigi's mother, posted on Instagram, saying that this "would have been a dream come true," for her daughter, to be drafted into the league.

Meanwhile, in a tribute, Cathy Engelbert, the WNBA commissioner, said the athletes represent WNBA's future, adding that the three "represented the next generation of stars in our league," probably what might have been named, "the Mambacita Generation."

The Message of Gratitude and Inspiration

The three players' families submitted their respective messages to play following the announcement. Each was a message of thanks to the WNBA for honoring the fallen athletes.

In her video, Vanessa was wearing the orange WNBA sweatshirt of her late husband. And in her message, Gigi's mom said, her daughter tirelessly worked every single day and that she wanted to be among the greatest sports personalities of all time, just like her father. 

Vanessa added, both Gigi and her father had been vast supporters of WNBA. She also congratulated the draft picks this year and advised them to work hard and never settle.

In addition, Vanessa previously talked about the love of Gigi for basketball as a sport, as well as her dream of becoming a WNBA player. Gigi, she said, would have most likely turned into "the best player in the WNBA."

Proud of her daughter, Vanessa also shared during the memorial for her husband and daughter, that "Gigi would have made a big difference" for women's basketball and that she got motivated to change how everyone regarded women in sports.

The Honorary Draft Picks

Gigi had always been open about her ardent desire to follow in the footsteps of her father in terms of playing professional basketball and eventually becoming one of the best players in the WNBA.

Similarly, Chester and Altobelli were remembered, too, for their passion for the sport. Both athletes played alongside Gigi for the team which Kobe coached.

As reported by the Orange County at the time of their death, Altobelli and Chester both had the passionate hope of continuing to play basketball in College. Specifically, Altobelli hoped to be part of the Oregon Ducks, a program that had three players selected in the first round on Friday.

Incidentally, Oregon star, Sabrina Ionescu, the New York Liberty's choice as the No. 1 overall pick, was a friend of Kobe and his family. She also spoke at the service saying, she thinks "it was a very beautiful thing" that the league drafted the three girls who, she said, deserve it.

Check these out!