The buzz was palpable from the moment Natalia Bryant and tennis star Coco Gauff appeared courtside at Barclays Center. Two icons-in-the-making united to cheer on WNBA standout Sabrina Ionescu. The moment set the tone for the New York Liberty’s commanding 85–66 against the Chicago Sky on June 10, 2025.
The late Kobe Bryant’s 22-year-old daughter, Natalia, was draped in stylish attire, while Tennis sensation Gauff lent a magnetic flair to an electric evening. As the New York Liberty won the game, the world witnessed a rare moment – the latest generation of sports icons came together to celebrate each other.
Natalia Bryant and Coco Gauff Rally Behind Sabrina Ionescu as Liberty Overpower Sky
Photographs and Instagram clips captured Natalia, fresh off her USC graduation in mid-May, and Gauff, fresh from a French Open triumph. Both displayed genuine excitement as they watched Ionescu direct plays.
The New York Liberty X account confirmed that Natalia and Gauff sat side by side during the Liberty-Sky tilt. Minutes later, Natalia shared selfies on her Instagram story with Coco cheering vocally for the New York Liberty and Ionescu.
22-year-old Natalia’s courtside excitement was more than typical fanfare. It resonated given her family’s history with the Liberty star as Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was also present courtside with her other two daughters—Bianka and Capri.
In the past, not only his family, but also the late Kobe Bryant himself would be spotted sitting courtside with his late daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant. The Black Mamba first took note of Ionescu during her collegiate career at Oregon in 2019. The father-daughter duo watched Ionescu’s entire game, leading them to congratulate her in person postgame.
Vanessa Bryant & the fam + @CocoGauff courtside? We LOVE to see it!!! 🫂🙌 pic.twitter.com/t2aZfUqF5k
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 11, 2025
The Liberty star then spent her 2019 summer helping the NBA legend coach Gigi’s team, Mamba Ballers, during the 2019-20 season. Over the years, this bond deepened. Ionescu has often spoken of the late Bryant’s mentorship and Gigi’s influence on her game, relating to The Times, “If I represented the present of the women’s game, Gigi was the future, and Kobe knew it.”
Watching Ionescu lead the team to an 85-66 win over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday, the late Hall of Famer would have been probably right.
New York Liberty Brutally Dominated Chicago Sky
The Liberty surged early, opening with a 12–0 run that signaled their intent and set the stage for an 85-66 victory over Chicago. After that, there was no looking back.
Ionescu led the charge with 23 points, seven assists, and a lone rebound, orchestrating the offense with trademark poise and vision. Breanna Stewart complemented with 18 points, seven boards, and five assists. Role players like Kennedy Burke (15 points, three 3-pointers) and Nyara Sabally (nine points) sustained momentum.
Chicago, hampered by injuries to Courtney Vandersloot (season-ending ACL tear) and Jonquel Jones (ankle), struggled to match New York’s balanced attack. Despite Angel Reese’s double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, Chicago was in tatters.
By halftime, New York was bleeding Chicago with a 20-point deficit as the score stood at 52–32. The deficit proved too steep for a roster in rebuild mode. The result extended New York’s best start in franchise history to 9-0, marking them as the ninth team in WNBA history to begin a season without a loss.
The Liberty will aim to sustain its historic run. For the Sky, the challenge is to navigate roster limitations and regain stability.
As the Liberty marches onward to face the Indiana Fever on June 14, the image of Natalia cheering for Ionescu will endure as a testament to the lasting impact of Kobe Bryant’s legacy and the evolving tapestry of women’s sports.