Sofia Laine

ABOUT SOFIA LAINE

Best known as the mother of Vanessa Bryant and the mother-in-law to Vanessa's late husband Kobe Bryant .

She raised Vanessa and her sister Sophie as a single mother. A chronic back injury prevented Sofia from finding work after she was laid off as a shipping clerk in the '90s.

She was close with her son-in-law, NBA star Kobe Bryant.

She has two daughters from her first marriage, Sophie and Vanessa. She was married to Stephen Laine from 1990 to 2001.

Her grandchildren include Natalia , Bianka and Capri Bryant as well as the late Gianna Bryant .