Touching Photo Shows WNBA Star Candace Parker Training Vanessa & Kobe Bryant’s Daughter Bianka
Candace Parker may have retired in April, but the WNBA star is staying busy. Last month, she announced that she and wife Anna Petrakova welcomed a son, Hartt Summitt Petrakov Parker. They’re also the loving parents of 2-year-old son Airr Larry, and Parker is mom to 14-year-old Lailaa. The entire Parker “starting lineup” is getting extra attention from their mom lately, and so is another little kid who has entered her sphere: Bianka Bryant.
As in, that Bryant. Bianka Bryant is the 7-year-old daughter of Vanessa Bryant and the late Kobe Bryant. And though she should be learning how to play basketball from her dad — who is widely considered the GOAT — and her older sister Gianna Bryant who was a rising star in basketball, the two tragically died in a fatal helicopter crash in January 2020.
And so “Aunty Candace” is stepping in and showing Bianka the ropes. Although, according to Parker, she can’t take credit for what Bianka does. Her skills are apparently innate.
“Look at the wrist loaded under the ball … On her toes … Basketball in her blood!” Parker wrote on a photo on her Instagram story, per People.
In her blood! That checks out. We’re sure Kobe’s other daughters — 21-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Capri — have immense athleticism woven into their DNA too.
“#MiniMamba Aunty Candace is so proud of you BB and you too COACH @Vanessa Bryant,” Parker continued on her Story.
The former Los Angeles Sparks star also posted a photo on her Instagram feed playing with Bianka. The 7-year-old stares intently up at the hoop that Parker is standing under. She has the ball in her hands (“wrist loaded!”), and it looks like she’ll take a shot at any second. It’s so sweet and poignant to see Parker training her. It’s so touching to see the WNBA GOAT stepping up while knowing the heartbreaking reason a certain NBA one isn’t there.
“❤️❤️❤️,” Vanessa commented.
The post also includes videos of Lailaa killing it on the volleyball court, a shot of Airr kicking a soccer ball, and photos of Hartt being the cutest little chunk.
“Genes are wild! The next are ready to take center stage and I’m excited to be there on the sidelines cheering them on‼️‼️ ????????????????????????????????????????????????????” Parker wrote. “Legacy Legacy Legacy Legacy!”