Among some of the most powerful and notable names in entertainment and sports, it was Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike and Las Vegas Aces center Liz Cambage who got the unexpected star treatment. In a dimly lit Staples Center, as nearly 20,000 gathered to mourn the passing of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, Kobe’s parents Joe and Pam approached the WNBA stars Monday morning.
In this moment of immeasurable grief, the parents of a legendary basketball player had a message for Ogwumike and Cambage, who have five WNBA All-Star appearances combined: We’re fans of you guys.
“That blew my mind,” Ogwumike said Tuesday, recalling the story from Monday’s memorial service.