Curry wants to do for the WNBA what Kobe started: a quiet but radical revolution

Stephen Curry continues Kobe Bryant’s legacy by becoming one of the most influential ambassadors of women’s basketball. For several years, the Warriors star has been using his fame to highlight the women’s game, directly inspired by the revolutionary approach of the Lakers legend.

Concrete investments in women’s basketball ecosystem

The Curry Camp, organized since 2015, perfectly illustrates this philosophy. Unlike many elite camps reserved for boys, Stephen Curry chose to open its doors to female players. In 2018, he notably invited Cameron Brink, now with the Los Angeles Sparks, and UConn’s Azzi Fudd.

Steph and Ayesha are launching the Curry Family Women’s Athletics Initiative that will help more than 200 female athletes on campus 👏 pic.twitter.com/jwJ01dXSZk

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 27, 2021

« I’m never going to ask them to be me or act like me, but I want to create a platform for them to come and change the game in their own way, » explains Stephen Curry. This approach directly reflects Kobe Bryant’s influence on his mentoring vision.

« What Kobe did for women’s basketball is a source of motivation, » emphasizes the Warriors star. « Now I have a camp that allows boys and girls to have a similar experience. It’s an important element in how we work and there’s a lot of his influence here. »

Curry’s commitment goes beyond mere statements of intent. In 2024, he invested in the « Unrivaled » league founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. He also regularly attends games of the Golden State Valkyries, who are playing their first season in the WNBA.

This financial involvement is part of a broader approach to developing women’s basketball. « He was one of the first I could see consistently promoting women’s basketball, » he said in 2020 about Kobe. « He would go see the players, of course there’s his relationship with Sabrina [Ionescu], he would go to games and he allowed them to come train at his academy, » he shared. « He was an incredible role model in putting his name and imprint on women’s basketball as something worth investing in. »

Kobe Bryant’s legacy in women’s basketball lives on through figures like Stephen Curry, who use their influence to elevate the women’s game. The four-time NBA champion intends to continue this mission, perhaps by becoming a WNBA franchise owner.