Maya Moore didn’t want ‘night to end’ when Lynx quit No. 23 jersey
Lynx legendary Maya Moore shed tears Saturday night when she stood on the court in center court to witness her number. 23 jersey taken into the rafters at the Target Center.
By Myron Medcalf
Aug 25, 2024 03:59 AM
MINNEAPOLIS — Lynx legend Maya Moore shed tears Saturday night as she stood at center court to see her No. 23 jersey retired to the rafters of the Target Center.
A few minutes following Moore’s Minnesota team she once coached was able to secure an automatic playoff spot thanks to the 90-80 win against The Indiana Fever and one season after when she officially announced her retirement in the WNBA, Moore was with former teammates family, friends and colleagues as her number was announced along with the other stars of the 2017 WNBA champions: Rebekkah Brunson, Lindsay Whalen, Sylvia Fowles and Seimone Augustus.
Most of the record-setting crowd at an Lynx at home match — 19,023were seated to pay tribute to Moore who was instrumental in helping the team win four WNBA championships.
“My life is an example of what it looks like when we love a little girl well,” she declared. “There is no way we’re watching that [ceremony] without love. So many people having a hand in my life to show me what life is about. That’s what I tried to bring every day: life and joy. Because I’ve been a recipient of life and joy.”
Moore was presented with a specially-designed box from Jordan Brand — she was the first woman to be formally signed by the brand which included a chic letter jacket as well as a variety of pairs of gold-colored shoes. A video-montage was also was shown during the ceremony to honor Moore who played 8 seasons living in Minneapolis. The video featured praise from some of her most formidable adversaries. The video also included a quote from Mercury Star Diana Taurasi stated that Diana Taurasi Moore was sometimes “unstoppable” whenever they competed.
Moore The winner of the 2014 WNBA winner, was honored by the players who made the team an elite team under the direction of head coach Cheryl Reeve.
“You helped all of us elevate our games to another level and we reached new heights to another level that we probably didn’t think we would ever achieve by winning four championships and doing so many awesome things together,” Augustus declared.
Whalen added: “The greatest thing I think I can say about Maya is that when you were on her team, you never felt out of any situation, any game.”
When she retired last year Moore declared that she along with her husband, Jonathan Irons, would continue their work through their nonprofit organisation, Win With Justice, that aims to inform the general public about the challenges of and outside of the American justice system. However, Moore hasn’t played in a game since last year, so she ended her career in the WNBA at the age of 29.
In the days leading up to Saturday’s game Moore declared she would not be thinking about the possibility of returning to basketball she resigned partly to assist in the release of Irons who was found guilty of an assault and burglary charge was thrown out. A few days after his release from prison July 1st in 2000, Moore as well as Irons were married. They welcomed their first baby, Jonathan Irons Jr. 2022. Between being a mother and working in the field of criminal justice reform, Moore said she’s content with her current life.
She also mentioned that she had waited to officially declare her retirement as she wanted to be sure.
“The journey that I had was not expected, but it was exactly the journey that I was supposed to go on,” she declared. “And so the way my life was going and the amount of effort and presence that was required from where I was going, as each year went along, it didn’t look like I could shift back, but I just wanted to stay in the moment and also just keep things open until I was really sure.”
Moore is among the best impressive resumes in the basketball history of either female or male. She was a two-time NCAA champion, and a twice Wooden Award winner. She also took home two Olympic gold medals for female nationals. The moment she stated she’ll never forget during her experience with the Lynx occurred in 2015 in Game 3 at the WNBA Finals against the Fever. Moore made a buzzer-beater three-pointer to take the game in the middle of the road, making some of the best and enduring pictures from her professional career.
“All you see in that picture is the [Indiana] fans just speechless as the shot is going up and then, you know, pump fake, one dribble right, it goes up,” she told me. “All I remember is it was so eerily quiet after the shot went in and then [Brunson] hugged me and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m back to life.'”
Caitlin Clark scoring 23 points during Saturday’s loss has frequently claimed that Moore her top athlete of her time. She was an avid Lynx fan in her youth and has said the one of her fondest childhood memories was the time she was able to hold Moore prior to a game.
However, Clark wasn’t the sole player on the court Saturday who was a fan of Moore when he was a child. Napheesa Collier who was the leading scorer for her team the Lynx by scoring 31 points, was the Lynx’s top scorer. performance as well as Moore was born in the same town, Jefferson City, Missouri and both attended UConn.
Moore stated that she was surprised by Collier’s progress throughout a season that has put her directly within the WNBA MVP race as well as other top players who are in pursuit of Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson. In the event, Reeve said Moore played an integral role in the rise of Collier.
“The impact of Maya Moore is that Napheesa Collier got to dream of one day being like Maya Moore,” Reeve stated.
The amazing magic Moore made in the court during her career will now have an unreserved spot in the Target Center now that her number has been removed. The day before, Moore tried to take everything in as she cried while fans who had never wanted her to leave booed.
“I kind of don’t want this night to end,” she added. “Some of my favorite people in the world are here with me.”