Maya Moore was one of the most dominant basketball players the WNBA has ever seen, and now the Minnesota Lynx will honor her for everything that she accomplished by retiring her no.23 jersey.
On August 24th, the number one overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft will have her jersey raised to the rafters, a salute to one of the greatest careers in basketball history.
The former UConn star was a 3x Wade Trophy winner, which is presented annually to the best women’s college basketball player in the country. Even more impressively, she won the award three straight times.
Upon entering the league, Moore paid immediate dividends for the Lynx.
Not only did the talented rookie help lead Minnesota back to the playoffs- which the Lynx hadn’t reached in a decade- but she helped the team win the WNBA championship.
But she didn’t stop there.
In seven years with the team, Moore led the team to four championships and made the Lynx a league powerhouse.
Moore’s resume is Hall of Fame worthy.
She was a 6x All-Star, a 5x First Team ALl-WNBA selection, the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP and the 2014 WNBA league MVP; and that was in just eight seasons. She was also a 2x NCAA champion, 2x AP Player of the Year while at UConn, 2x Olympic gold medalist and the first woman basketball player to sign with Brand Jordan.
In 2019, Moore made the stunning decision to leave basketball to pursue a higher purpose, which was family and criminal justice reform. She helped get the 50-year prison sentence of Jonathan Irons overturned in 2020 and shortly afterward, they were married and had a son.
Last year, Moore officially retired from the WNBA.
“Well, I think it’s time to put a close to the pro basketball life,” Moore said during an interview on ABC’s Good Morning America. “I walked away four seasons ago but wanted to officially retire. This is such a sweet time for us and our family. The work we’ve done. I want to continue that in our next chapter. Be home for my community and family. … That’s what I’m moving into. Hanging it up.”
Moore will have one additional honor before August as next month, she will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Maya Moore has forever left a mark on the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota Lynx franchise and the hearts of Lynx fans everywhere,” said Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner Glen Taylor last year.
On August 24th in the Target Center in Minneapolis, Moore’s jersey will officially be retired.
Ironically, that’s also the day that the Lynx are scheduled to play the Indiana Fever, who have the first pick in this year’s WNBA draft. If they select Caitlin Clark, like they are expected to do, that means that Clark will get to watch her basketball idol’s jersey retirement ceremony.
