Maya Moore Retires: WNBA, Olympic, NCAA Champion; Human Rights Advocate
Monday, January 16, 2023 at 07:19PM By Barry Janoff
January 16, 2023: Maya Moore, arguably one of the greatest players in basketball history, said she has officially decided to retire from basketball.
Moore was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011 No. 1 overall and last played in 2019.
In 2019, Moore took a leave from the WNBA and devoted her time and energy to obtain the release from prison of Jonathan Irons.
Irons, whom she meet when she was 18, was serving a 50-year prison sentence in the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri for burglary and assault.
Due to Moore’s efforts and her non-profit group, Win With Justice, Iron’s sentence was overturned in 2020.
Irons and Moore later married, and they had their first child, Jonathan Jr., in July.
Her book, co-authored with Irons, on her life and efforts, Love & Justice, is due out this month.
“I want to continue to be present at home, for our community, and also doing work with our nonprofit. That's what I'm moving into,” she posted to social media.
Moore, 33, won four WNBA championships with the Lynx (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), two Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball (2012, 2016) and two NCAA titles with UConn, also winning the John Wooden Award twice (2009, 2011) as the top Women’s College Player of the Year.
She was named MVP of the WNBA Finals in 2013, WNBA MVP in 2014 and WNBA All-Star Game MVP three times.
In 2021, as part of its season-long 25th anniversary, the WNBA named Moore to “The W25,” a roster of the 25 "greatest and most influential players in WNBA history."
As she has not played professionally since 2019, Moore will be eligible for the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2024.
“We are immensely grateful for the eight incredible seasons Maya Moore gave to the WNBA and to fans of women’s basketball everywhere,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said via the league.
“Her four WNBA championships, six All-Star selections, an MVP award and a Finals MVP trophy are indicative of the type of rare, generational talent Maya brought to this league, but perhaps her greatest legacy will be what she accomplished beyond the game. 
“Her staunch advocacy for change to the criminal justice system through her Win With Justice project elevated her impact to new heights, and her work has and will continue to inspire her fans around the world. We wish the best for Maya and her family in the future.”
“Maya Moore has forever left a mark on the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota Lynx franchise and the hearts of Lynx fans everywhere,” Glen Taylor Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx owner, said via the teams.
“Maya’s accolades are numerous; her leadership and talent both fearless and inspirational set the foundation for the most exciting and historic championship run in the league from 2011-2017. While today culminates Maya’s basketball career, there is no doubt she will continue to impact the game we all love.
“We wish Maya all the best and will root for her always.”
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