Maya Moore cemented her place among basketball’s greatest as she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday night, Sept. 6, 2025, in a ceremony broadcast live on NBA TV.
The honor recognized her on-court dominance and her bold off-court choices, including stepping away from the game at her peak to pursue justice reform.
Moore joined an illustrious 2025 class alongside women’s basketball icons Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, coach Billy Donovan, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison, and the 2008 U.S. Men’s Redeem Team.
Sports journalist Jasmyn Wimbish summed up Moore’s legacy: “There are very few basketball players, men or women, who have won more than Moore at every level.”
Who Is Maya Moore?
Born June 11, 1989, in Jefferson City, Missouri, Maya April Moore rose to fame at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where she led the Huskies to two undefeated championship seasons in 2009 and 2010 and set the record as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Drafted first overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011, she immediately made an impact, helping the team win its first WNBA title that same year. Known for her scoring ability, leadership, and versatility, she became one of the league’s most respected forwards.
Quick Facts About Maya Moore
- Four-Time WNBA Champion: Titles with the Lynx in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. Named WNBA Finals MVP in 2013.
- International Star: Two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) and two FIBA World Championships (2010, 2014). Named MVP in 2014.
- Academic Achiever: Twice NCAA Academic All-American of the Year; led UConn’s record 90-game winning streak.
- Trailblazer: In 2011, became the first female athlete signed to Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand.
- Advocate & Reformer: Paused her career in 2019 to focus on criminal justice reform, officially retiring in 2023.
Maya Moore’s Husband: Jonathan Irons
Moore’s off-court journey is inseparable from her work with her husband, Jonathan Irons. Wrongfully convicted of burglary and assault at age 16, Irons served 22 years of a 50-year sentence before his conviction was overturned in 2020.
Moore explained her decision to step away from basketball: “I stepped away from the game to focus on Jonathan’s case and justice reform.”
Irons reflected on her support: “Maya wasn’t just advocating for me; she was fighting for what was right.”
Following his release, the two married in 2020 and have since built a family while continuing advocacy work together. Their story is widely cited as a testament to resilience, justice, and partnership.
