Vanessa and Kobe Bryant's love story is one for the books. The couple met when they were just teenagers and remained together until the former basketball star died in January 2020. Their relationship was always a part of his story, and she was by his side throughout his NBA career. The couple shared four kids together, four girls, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri.
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Their 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also aboard the helicopter on January 26 when it crashed, killing all nine on board, including Kobe. The NBA star married Vanessa in 2001, and aside from a brief separation in 2011, they remained together ever since. The couple seemed to have the perfect family life, and after he retired from basketball in 2016, they were beginning a new phase in their lives together now that he had more time to spend at home with his wife and their girls. Scroll through to see a timeline of Kobe and Vanessa's incredible love story.
With additional reporting by Sugey Palomares.