UConn star Azzi Fudd says she believes her Huskies bought an help from the Mamba and the Mambacita throughout their title tilt final weekend … telling TMZ Sports activities she felt Kobe and Gianna Bryant “watching down on us” through the large recreation.

Some 5 years after the NBA legend and his daughter — who was a large UConn fan — handed away in a tragic helicopter accident … Fudd says she felt their presence as she and her teammates had been taking down South Carolina within the nationwide championship in San Antonio.

She informed us all of it turned crystal clear to her when somebody identified just a few Bryant-related numbers within the matchup’s field rating.

“Another person requested me,” Fudd informed us whereas she labored a ceremonial shift with Kk Arnold at a Elevating Cane’s this week, “there have been a pair scores — 24, 8 — within the stat line they usually had been like, ‘Do you imagine in God’s energy?'”

“And I used to be like, ‘Yeah, that is God. That is them. That is Kobe. That is Gigi. That is them watching down on us, cheering us on on this recreation. She was there. She’s not right here, however she was there in spirit.”

Fudd had met the Bryant duo earlier than their deaths … she truly labored out with them in Los Angeles just some months previous to the accident. She posed with the 2 for footage through the on-court session, and after we reminded her of the snaps, she bought a bit emotional … as she realized Gigi “would have been a freshman” this 12 months if she had survived.

“That undoubtedly did cross my thoughts,” she stated.

Vanessa truly shouted out Fudd and her teammates following their large win over the Gamecocks … and Fudd informed us this week she was grateful for the sort phrases.