WNBA Icon Maya Moore Announces Retirement
Maya Moore
Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty Images
By: Adonis Armstrong
Maya Moore has formally announced to retire from playing basketball. The Minnesota Lynx legend took some time away from the WNBA in 2019 to assist her now-husband Jonathan Irons win his release from jail by getting his 50-year sentence overturned in 2020. After his release, Irons married Moore not too long after and the couple had their first child, Jonathan Jr., in July. The two also have a book coming out this week titled, Love and Justice.
Maya Moore
Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Moore is one of the most decorated athletes to grace the hardwood due to her resume. She went 150-4 in her career at UConn. She was also two time AP Player of the Year and was a vital part the Huskies 90 game winning streak, which was the longest ever before it was broken a few years later. Moore was one of the rare athletes to leave their sport in the prime of their career.
In 2011, the Lynx drafted Maya with the No. 1 pick and she wrapped up her rookie compaign by winning the Rookie of the Year. She then went on to win the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2014. Moore’s career stats are 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for the Lynx. Next year, since she stopped playing four years ago, Moore will be eligible for the Naismith Hall of Fame which is for basketball legends to be enshrined in history.
Maya Moore
David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images
Moore announced her choice to retire on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Before Monday, she had been noncommittal about ever playing basketball again.
“Well, I think it’s time to put a close to the pro basketball life. 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.”
Maya Moore officially announce her retirement from pro basketball on @GMA.
— WNBA Fans Only (@WNBAFansOnly) January 16, 2023
2x NCAA Champ
4x WNBA Champ
6x WNBA All-Star
3x All-Star MVP
2013 Finals MVP
2014 WNBA MVP pic.twitter.com/lH6aHcjAv3
Moore will continue to educate the public on the critical role prosecutors play in the criminal justice system with her social action campaign, Win With Justice.
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