Tomorrow, after the game between the Lynx and the Fever, the jersey retirement ceremony for Lynx legend Maya Moore will be held at the Lynx’s home arena, Target Center. As a little fan of Maya Moore, Fever sweetheart Clarke will also witness this glorious moment on-site.
Moore’s jersey is the fifth to be retired by the Lynx. The previous four were all pillars of the Lynx dynasty, including Lindsay Whalen, Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, and Fowles, while Moore was the absolute core of this dynastic team. The Lynx dynasty refers to the 7-year period from 2011 to 2017 during which the Lynx won four championships.
Moore’s career can be described as brilliant, earning her the title of “Unbeaten Queen.” Wherever she went, she left championships behind. In her short twelve-year basketball career, she amassed sixteen championships of various sizes.
During her four-year college career at basketball powerhouse University of Connecticut (UConn), Moore led the team to an impressive record of 150 wins and 4 losses, winning two NCAA championships. Her college record remains unmatched to this day (Stewart won four championships in four years at UConn but had five losses). She herself won the AP Player of the Year award twice, the USBWA National Player of the Year award twice, the Toyota Cup for Best Female College Athlete twice, the Naismith College Player of the Year award twice, and the Wooden Award twice, among other honors. With such a glorious college record, Moore was selected first overall in the 2011 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx, starting her WNBA journey.
In her rookie season of 2011, Moore won the championship with the team and became only the second player in WNBA history to win both Rookie of the Year and the championship.
In 2013, Moore led the Lynx to a record of 26 wins and 8 losses, winning another championship and being named Finals MVP.
2014 was Moore’s MVP season, but they lost in the semi-finals to the Mercury led by the interior behemoth Griner. The Lynx then strengthened their lineup by signing the Sky’s core center Fowles in free agency. This great signing helped the Lynx continue their dynasty. In 2015, Maya Moore and Fowles led the Lynx to their third championship.
In 2017, the Lynx avenged their defeat in the finals the previous year against the Sparks and won their fourth championship, tying them with the Storm for the most championships in WNBA history.
Maya Moore played just eight seasons in the WNBA and won four championships, one MVP, one Finals MVP, six All-Star selections, three All-Star Game MVPs, seven All-WNBA selections (including five First Team and two Second Team), one scoring title, one steals title, and Rookie of the Year in 2011. She was also named one of the top 20 and 25 players in WNBA history. In just eight years, Moore won almost every possible award, making her one of the best players in WNBA history. Additionally, Moore was inducted into the 2024 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame along with her former teammate Augustus.
On the national team front, Moore’s achievements are also abundant, winning four gold medals, including two Olympic gold medals (2012 and 2016) and two World Championship gold medals (2010 and 2014). As a core player for the US national team, Moore was named World Championship MVP in 2014.
More well-known to Chinese fans is that Moore joined the WCBA during the WNBA offseason in 2013, averaging over 40 points and 10 rebounds. From 2013 to 2015, she almost single-handedly led the newly promoted Shanxi women’s basketball team to a three-peat, earning her the honorary citizen title of Shanxi, leaving a beautiful memory for Chinese fans.
Maya Moore’s greatness is not only reflected on the court. Off the court, Maya Moore actively engaged in public welfare and social justice causes. More memorable is the story of her and her current husband Jonathan Irons.
Maya Moore visited prisoners during a high school extracurricular activity in 2007, where she met the wrongfully imprisoned Irons and became friends with him. In the following years, while playing basketball, Maya Moore collected evidence for Irons and did everything in her power to help clear his name. Finally, in 2019, Maya Moore put her rising basketball career on hold and used the evidence she had gathered to fight for Irons’ exoneration. In 2020, Irons was cleared and released from prison. During this process, the two fell deeply in love and eventually got married, welcoming their first child in 2022.
Now Maya Moore has returned to her alma mater, UConn, serving as a video analyst, contributing to the development of more basketball talents.
Maya Moore’s positive fighting spirit and willingness to give everything for the team on the court are worth learning from. Off the court, her willingness to help a friend she barely knew without hesitation is a courage and spirit worthy of everyone’s admiration.
Tomorrow, the “Unbeaten Queen’s” jersey will hang forever in the rafters of Target Center. The story of the “Unbeaten Queen” comes to an end, but the impact and memories she brought to fans on the court will last forever. Wishing her a smooth and prosperous post-retirement life.