Amanda Knapp
In January 2023, Maya Moore, a former professional basketball player, announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 33. Moore, who played for the Minnesota Lynx, stepped away from the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 2019 while at the peak of her career to focus on seeking justice for her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, and has stated that she does not plan on making a comeback.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Retirement | Maya Moore has officially retired from basketball |
| Reason for retirement | To seek justice for her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, and to focus on her family |
| Comeback | Moore has stated that she does not plan on making a comeback |
| Career accolades | Four WNBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, two NCAA titles, and multiple other awards |
| Legacy | Moore is considered one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball and will be eligible for the Hall of Fame |
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What You'll Learn
Maya Moore's basketball career highlights
Maya Moore, born on June 11, 1989, in Jefferson City, Missouri, is a former American professional basketball player. She played as a forward for the UConn women's basketball team and the Minnesota Lynx. Moore is also a social justice advocate who fought for her husband, Jonathan Irons, who was convicted of burglary and assault.
High School and College Career:
In high school, Moore was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and a McDonald's All-American. She also played for the Georgia Metros 16U Nike Travel Team in 2005 and 2006. Moore then attended the University of Connecticut, where she continued her successful basketball career. She became the second player to win the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award after both her junior and senior prep seasons. She was also a two-time Parade Magazine First Team All-America and a four-time Georgia Class 5A All-State First Team selection.
During her time at UConn, Moore excelled, becoming the first freshman in Big East Basketball history to be named the Big East Player of the Year in 2008. She also broke the UConn single-season record for most points as a freshman, scoring 678 points. In 2009, she led Connecticut to an undefeated national championship and was named the John Wooden Award winner. UConn won back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010, with Moore as their forward. In 2011, Moore earned All-American honours and was named the Associated Press Player of the Year for the second time.
Professional Career:
Moore was selected as the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx, becoming the first female basketball player signed to the Jordan Brand. She had a successful rookie season, being named the 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year and helping the Lynx win their first WNBA Championship. In 2012, she added a Euroleague Championship and a Spanish League Championship to her resume. Moore also won Olympic gold with Team USA in 2012 and 2016, contributing to their sixth consecutive gold medal in 2016.
Moore continued her dominance in the WNBA, leading the league in scoring in 2014 with 23.9 points per game and being named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP). She won her second WNBA Championship with the Lynx in 2013, where she was also named the Finals MVP. In 2015, she added another WNBA Championship to her resume and won the WNBA All-Star MVP award. Moore played for the Russian basketball club UMMC Ekaterinburg during the 2017/2018 EuroLeague season, helping them win the EuroLeague Championship.
Throughout her career, Moore established herself as one of the greatest players in women's basketball history. She won a total of four WNBA Championships with the Lynx and appeared in the league finals six times during her eight-season WNBA career. Moore was named the WNBA MVP in 2014 and a six-time WNBA All-Star. She was also a three-time WNBA All-Star Game MVP and a seven-time All-WNBA selection. In 2017, Sports Illustrated named her their inaugural Performer of the Year, calling her the "greatest winner in the history of women's basketball". Moore was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.
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Maya Moore's life after basketball
Maya Moore, the former Minnesota Lynx basketball star, has officially hung up her boots and retired from the sport. Moore, a four-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic gold medallist, and two-time NCAA title winner, decided to step away from the game at her peak in 2019. She was just 33 years old.
Moore's life after basketball has been focused on social justice advocacy and her family. She successfully helped overturn her now-husband Jonathan Irons' wrongful conviction, which led to his release from prison. Irons had been serving a 50-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. Moore used her platform and star power to advocate for criminal justice reform and played a pivotal role in Irons' freedom. The couple married soon after his release and welcomed their first child, Jonathan Hughston Irons Jr., in February 2022.
Moore has embraced her new role as a wife and mother, expressing her excitement about being present for her family and community. She has also co-authored a book with Irons, titled "Love And Justice: A Story Of Triumph On Two Different Courts," detailing their journey. Moore's impact off the court has been profound, and she was recognised with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for her courage and advocacy.
While Moore has closed the door on her playing career, her legacy in basketball remains intact. She was selected for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024 and will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025. Moore's achievements on and off the court have inspired fans and athletes worldwide, solidifying her status as one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball.
Moore's post-basketball life exemplifies her commitment to social justice and her desire to make a meaningful impact beyond the court. She has transitioned from being a champion on the court to a champion for change, and her influence continues to resonate in her new chapter.
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Maya Moore's social justice work
Maya Moore, the former professional basketball player, has been involved in various social justice initiatives. One of the most notable aspects of her social justice work has been her role in seeking justice for her husband, Jonathan Irons. Irons was convicted of burglary and assault and had been in prison for over two decades. Moore stepped away from her basketball career in 2019, while still at her prime, to focus on getting justice for Irons. In March 2020, a Missouri judge overturned Irons' conviction, citing issues with the investigation and trial, including the withholding of a fingerprint report that could have proven his innocence. Irons was released from prison in July 2020, and he and Moore were married shortly after. Moore and Irons also published a book together in 2023, titled "Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts," detailing their experiences. Moore's work in criminal justice reform extends beyond her husband's case, as she has also partnered with organisations like the End It Movement to raise awareness about modern slavery and the Win With Justice campaign, which aims to educate the public about the excessive power of prosecutors in maintaining and expanding mass incarceration. Moore has also supported the AIA, an organisation that believes in the power of sports to open doors and create connections, and the United Way, where she works to raise volunteers and awareness for early grade reading proficiency.
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Maya Moore's marriage to Jonathan Irons
WNBA star Maya Moore first stepped away from basketball in 2019 to fight for the freedom of her future husband, Jonathan Irons, who was serving a 50-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. Irons was just 16 when he was tried and convicted by an all-white jury in 1997.
For the first six years of their relationship, Moore and Irons developed a sibling-like friendship. However, in 2013, their relationship took a romantic turn during a phone conversation. In 2017, Moore spoke about Irons' case publicly but intentionally omitted any mention of their romance, wanting the media and fans to focus on the merits of the case. Moore played an instrumental role in getting Irons' conviction on burglary and assault charges overturned. Irons was finally released in July 2020, and the couple got married soon after in a socially distanced event with their closest family and friends. In February 2022, Moore and Irons welcomed their first child, Jonathan Hughston Irons Jr.
Moore and Irons have since co-written a memoir, "Love and Justice," detailing their love story and chronicling the injustice Irons experienced. In a joint interview with TIME, Moore and Irons expressed their desire to educate the public about the truth of what happened to prevent similar instances of injustice from occurring again. Moore has consistently advocated for criminal justice reform and plans to continue telling Irons' story well.
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Maya Moore's legacy
Maya Moore is a former professional basketball player and social justice advocate. She is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, with a career filled with championships and awards.
Moore's career began at the University of Connecticut, where she was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion. She then went on to be selected by the Minnesota Lynx as the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft, becoming the first female basketball player signed to the Jordan Brand. Her professional career was incredibly successful, making three WNBA finals, one Eurobasket final, and two WCBA finals in her first three years, and winning five of the six possible championships. She was named WNBA MVP in 2014 and won the WNBA All-Star MVP award in 2015, making her one of only three players to have won the MVP award for the WNBA regular season, the WNBA finals, and the All-Star game. In total, she won four WNBA championships with the Lynx, two Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball, and two NCAA titles with UConn.
Moore's legacy extends far beyond her basketball accolades, however. She is well-known for her role in seeking justice for her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, who was wrongfully convicted of burglary and assault and spent over two decades in prison. Moore stepped away from basketball in 2019 to focus on her family and social justice issues, and her work in this area has been recognised with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Moore was also a key part of the Lynx's activism against police brutality in 2016, which helped lay the foundation for the WNBA's political and social activism in subsequent years.
Moore's impact on the sport has been widely acknowledged, with many describing her as a "winner" both on and off the court. She has inspired countless young athletes and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Maya Moore officially retired from basketball in 2023.
Maya Moore stepped away from basketball in 2019 to focus on seeking justice for her now-husband, Jonathan Irons, and officially retired from the sport in 2023. Irons was serving a 50-year sentence for a crime he did not commit and was released in 2020.
No, Maya Moore did not return to basketball after her hiatus. She officially retired from the sport in 2023.
Maya Moore was a highly successful basketball player. She won four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx, two Olympic gold medals with USA Basketball, and two NCAA titles with UConn. She was also the league's MVP in 2014 and the Rookie of the Year in 2011.
Since her retirement, Maya Moore has focused on her family and community. She has also co-authored a book with her husband, Jonathan Irons, titled "Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts."
