Maya Moore became the fourth Minnesota Lynx player to have her jersey retired on Saturday, joining an exclusive group of WNBA legends, including Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, and Seimone Augustus. Moore’s No. 23 jersey now stands alongside those of her teammates, all of whom have been immortalized in Lynx history. In addition to her jersey being raised to the rafters, Moore received a custom jacket and a pair of gold Jordan basketball shoes.
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft, Moore had a transformative impact on the team. Over her eight seasons with the Lynx, Moore averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game. She led the league in steals in 2018 and points in 2014 and was named to the WNBA All-First Team six times. By the time she retired in 2018, it was clear that the Lynx would eventually retire her jersey.
Several of Moore’s former Lynx teammates attended the ceremony and spoke fondly of the Minnesota icon. “You brought out the best in all of us; that is how special you are,” Brunson said, reflecting on Moore’s impact. Sylvia Fowles, who played alongside Moore from 2015 to 2018, humorously noted Moore’s unique pace. “When we got in here on the first day of practice, I mean you talk about hit the ground running,” Fowles said. “I was like, ‘How do I keep up with these ladies? Maybe I was doing the wrong thing.’ But Maya definitely was the one who moved at her own pace, which is slow. Y’all see her out here dabbing and moving, but in the back, you’re not rushing Maya to do nothing.”
Moore’s arrival instantly transformed the Lynx’s fortunes. In Cheryl Reeve’s first season as coach in 2010, Minnesota finished 13-21, marking their sixth consecutive losing season and another missed playoff appearance. Nevertheless, in 2011, Moore’s rookie year, the Lynx won their first WNBA title—the beginning of a dominant era for Moore and the franchise. Moore helped lead the team to four WNBA championships, earning Finals MVP honors in 2013. She was named the 2014 MVP and a six-time All-Star, earning All-Star Game MVP thrice. The Lynx captured WNBA titles again in 2015 and 2017, maintaining a pattern of success in odd-numbered years.
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Ahead of the 2019 season, Moore announced she would take a year off to focus on her family and ministry work. She extended her break for another season to concentrate on criminal justice reform. In January 2020, Moore advocated releasing Jonathan Irons, a man she believed was wrongfully convicted and whose case lacked sufficient evidence. Thanks to Moore’s efforts, Irons’ conviction was overturned in July 2020. Moore and Irons married just nine days after his release from prison.
Throughout her life and career, Moore has established herself as a champion on and off the court, making her one of the most deserving athletes of a jersey retirement.
