Minnesota Lynx Guard Maya Moore has elected to walk away from the WNBA after eight seasons. Moore played her final game in 2018 and transitioned into a career addressing the mass incarceration system within the United States. Most notably, she spearheaded the effort to regain the freedom of her now husband, Jonathan Irons.
“I couldn’t have written this story like this,” Moore said on Sunday, per ESPN.
“This has definitely been unexpected. But at the same time, it’s been really thoughtful and planned and prepared. That’s life, right? A lot of it is unexpected, but you also do your best to try to be prepared. That’s basketball, too. You don’t know how the game’s going to unfold, but you do your best to prepare.”
On the court, Moore’s resumé is unquestioned. Despite playing fewer than ten years, her list of accolades runs long, including four WNBA titles, six WNBA All-Star appearances and an MVP trophy. Not to mention, she won three national championships in college while leading the UConn Huskies to 78 straight wins in her final two seasons. Internationally, Moore also helped Team USA win two gold medals and the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
