The Team USA women's basketball team earned its eighth straight Olympic gold medal after a thrilling 67-66 win over France in the final on Sunday at the Paris Games.

After the victory, point guard Sabrina Ionescu celebrated by sharing an embrace with the late Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant and her daughters:

Ionescu had a deep friendship with Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi after meeting them while she played at Oregon. Their tragic deaths in early 2020 had a devastating impact on her, she told B/R Mag. She spoke during their memorial ceremony and delivered a moving message.

"I carry Kobe and Gigi with me every day and honor their legacies through my dedication to the game," she said during the service. "I wake up every day grateful for the platform I've been given and I strive to lead by example and serve as a role model for young people and especially girls to pursue sports — a platform Kobe and Gigi were passionate about."

Since Kobe and Gigi's deaths, Ionescu has maintained a close relationship with Vanessa and her daughters. In May, Vanessa posted an Instagram reel that featured the New York Liberty star playing basketball with her seven-year-old daughter Bianka.

"Shooting definitely runs in the family," Ionescu commented with a laughing emoji.

Ionescu played 10 minutes off the bench in Sunday's gold-medal game against France and dished out three assists, including a beautiful pass to Napheesa Collier late in the third quarter that gave Team USA the lead.

After earning her first Olympic gold medal, it can be expected that Ionescu, who has the same "Mamba Mentality" as her mentor, is already motivated to chase another in four years.