At the start of Friday night's 2020 WNBA draft, the league honored the three girls who were tragically lost in the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and eight others. The three girls—Gianna Bryant, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester— were all chosen as honorary picks by the WNBA.
Vanessa Bryant posted a video on Instagram earlier in the day to promote the special honor, with the caption: "Honorary Draft Picks:u2764ufe0fGianna Bryantu2764ufe0f u2764ufe0f Alyssa Altobelli and Peyton Chesteru2764ufe0f class of 2024."
Gianna Bryant (13 years old), Altobelli (14) and Chester (13) were teammates on Kobe Bryant's Mamba Academy team.