Dawn Staley, former basketball player and current head coach of the South Carolina Women’s Basketball team, recently received a special gift from Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant. The gesture was a tribute to Staley’s significant contributions to basketball, both as a player and as a coach. Staley expressed her gratitude for the thoughtful gift, which also highlights her longstanding relationship with Nike.
The gift, a pair of limited-edition Nike Kobe 4 Proto CHBL sneakers, is particularly meaningful. These yellow sneakers were released exclusively in China, making them rare and highly coveted. Staley, overwhelmed by the gesture, took to Instagram to thank Vanessa Bryant: “vanessabryant I don’t mean to flood your timeline but truly grateful and thankful to receive part of kobebryant legacy and your vision and love for him elevate that legacy! Don’t ever stop….mamba mentality!”
The sneakers’ limited availability has sparked attention from NBA fans, many of whom praised Vanessa for continuing to honor Kobe Bryant’s legacy after his passing.
For Staley, this gift also symbolizes her deep connection to Nike. In 1999, she became one of the first female athletes to receive a signature shoe with the brand, the Nike Zoom S5. This marked the beginning of a long-standing partnership with Nike. As a coach, Staley has continued to engage with the brand, participating in Nike’s Think Tank Initiative 3.0 in 2024 and reviewing Nike’s A’ja Wilson Player Edition shoes in 2025.
The thoughtful gift from Vanessa Bryant has resonated with Staley’s fans, many of whom have followed her career from her playing days to her current role as the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball history.
