Pau Gasol and Catherine name first child after Kobe Bryant's daughter as tribute, a look at their love story
It's a special moment for Milwaukee Bucks player Pau Gasol and his wife, Catherine McDonnell, who welcomed their first child together recently. The couple has named their newborn after the daughter of late legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant. Former Lakers star Gasol announced the special news by taking to Twitter. He revealed that his newborn daughter's name is a tribute to the late Gianna Bryant, who tragically passed away with her father, Kobe Bryant, and several others in a fatal helicopter crash in January, 2020.
In his September 13 post, Gasol shared an adorable picture of his wife and the newborn. They can be seen on the hospital bed like a joyous family. “Our little one has finally arrived!! The delivery went really well and we couldn’t be happier!! Elisabet Gianna Gasol, a very meaningful name for our super beautiful daughter!! #Girldad"
Our little one has finally arrived!! The delivery went really well and we couldn’t be happier!! Elisabet Gianna Gasol 😍, a very meaningful name for our super beautiful daughter!! ❤️👨👩👧 #girldad pic.twitter.com/rmXWk0BTFz
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) September 13, 2020
McDonnell too showed her elation and wrote about the news in an Instagram post, "Elisabet Gianna Gasol joined our family on September 10th, 2020. She made a quick and easy entrance on a VERY special day, her great-grandmother Elizabeth’s 100th birthday and her mom and dad’s 2nd engagement anniversary.💖 We are already so in love with our sweet Ellie!!"
Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, thanked the couple's special tribute. "Love you 3," she reportedly replied to the NBA star's post. Moreover, Vanessa re-shared the news on her private Instagram feed and revealed she's the godmother of Pau and Catherine's newborn daughter as reported by E Online. "My goddaughter is here!!!! Congratulations @paugasol @catmcdonnell7 Love you 3 so much! So touched by your request to honor my Gigi," Vanessa's heartwarming message read as per the website.
Prior to the pregnancy announcement, the two lovebirds, Gasol and McDonnell, celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary. McDonnell wrote a gracious post for hubby in July. "You light up my world, baby," McDonnell posted on Instagram on July 7. "Happy 1 year anniversary @paugasol! Time flies when you’re having fun! It’s been a crazy year, filled with some of the happiest times and some of the hardest times, especially with the loss of loved ones. But, there is no one that I would rather be next to through it all. I love you more and more every day. So lucky to have found my soulmate. Cheers to many more wonderful years together and many more beautiful moments to come!”
(Getty Images)
Clearly, the couple had a beautiful relationship starting from 2016.
A look at the couple’s love story
Gasol and McDonnell made their relationship official back in 2016 after embarking on some dreamy vacations in Mexico together as reported by Hola! Back then, posing on an idyllic white sand beach, Gasol introduced McDonnell to the world as his girlfriend. Later in 2018, the Spanish player NBA soon realized she was the love of his life and proposed her announcing their upcoming nuptials in a romantic post. In the picture, the couple can be seen maintaining intense eye contact with one another and McDonnell smiling at him. "Words cannot express how happy and excited we are! She said YES!! I’m so lucky to be engaged to such a wonderful woman and look forward to a lifetime together! #forever," he captioned the photo as the pair embarked on their soulful romance.
Words cannot express how happy and excited we are! She said YES!! I’m so lucky to be engaged to such a wonderful woman and look forward to a lifetime together! #forever ❤️ @catmcdonnell7!!! pic.twitter.com/IRTUkiV5tV
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) October 16, 2018
A year later, Gasol took to Instagram again to announce the news of his marriage with McDonnell. In a heartwarming caption, he wrote how the moment has been the most surreal one in his lifetime. “The most magical moment I’ve experienced in my entire life. It makes me so happy to share a glimpse of our wedding with all of you! We are so thankful to our families and friends who made this celebration so special. I love you wife.”
What deepened Pau Gasol and Catherine McDonnell’s relationship was that the two never left a chance to lose on outings, trips, matches and dates! Some of them include the qualifying of the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya in Spain in 2018, Rafael Nadal's victory match in the French Open in 2017, their past vacations in California and Italy in 2018 and many many more that herald their commitment to one another as a great companion.