Former Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore is getting some great gifts in addition to her jersey retirement. One of those gifts is a special pair of Jordan Brand sneakers. The shoes are made of solid gold and commemorate the fact that Moore was the first female star to be signed to the shoe company.
Moore received the gifts Saturday night as part of her jersey retirement ceremony with the Lynx. She spent eight seasons with the team and won four WNBA championships. Moore left the club in 2018 and officially retired from basketball in 2023.
“I don’t want this night to end,” Moore said at the ceremony, according to ESPN. “Some of my favorite people in the world are here with me.”
Maya Moore is possibly the best basketball player of all time
Moore almost single-handedly turned the Lynx into a women’s basketball dynasty, winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year award with the team in 2011 and then winning four titles in just eight competitive seasons. Moore also played overseas for Team USA, helping the women’s basketball club to gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
“My life is an example of what it looks like when we really love a little girl,” Moore added. “We can’t look at this (the ceremony) without love. So many people have been part of my life and shown me what life is about. That’s what I try to convey every day: life and joy. Because I am a recipient of life and joy.”
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The former Lynx forward also played overseas in Russia and China. She retired from basketball in 2018 to work on social justice issues. Lynx fans can only speculate now how much more she could have accomplished had she played for the team a few more seasons.
Moore’s success on the court made her one of the most respected basketball players in the world. Her impact on the game is far-reaching; Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James sent her a message congratulating her on her achievement. Moore’s impact on the game is one of the reasons the Jordan Brand signed her as the first female athlete to work with the company.
Moore finished her WNBA career averaging more than 18 points and nearly 6 rebounds per game. She also won two national championships at UConn.
