Minnesota Lynx Legend Gets Jersey In The Target Center Rafters

The number 23 has long been immortalized in NBA history because of players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. As of August 24, that same number is now immortalized in WNBA history, more specifically in Minnesota Lynx history.

Maya Moore, who played with the Lynx for eight seasons, was recognized for her uber-successful WNBA career in a jersey retirement ceremony.

“This is one of those things that, as you guys can probably guess, I don’t necessarily think about a lot, but then I’m gonna be forced to think about it in that moment and feel all the things of just gratitude and probably being very overwhelmed with just the ridiculous amount of talent and quality of people I got to do it with, as [my jersey’s] going next to the other great players that I’ve gotten to play with,” Moore said in a press conference prior to the ceremony.

At the event, which was held before the Lynx’s matchup against the Indiana Fever, Moore was honored by several former players. One was Moore’s Olympic United States women’s basketball and Lynx teammate Sylvia Fowles , who had her number hung in the rafters in 2023.

“I didn’t appreciate it then, but the older I got in my career, the more I understood why [Moore] moved the way she moved,” Fowles said during the ceremony . “And it was about being on her own time, being great on the court. But when she’s off the court, it’s all about Maya, and that’s something that you taught me and I can appreciate that, and I just want to say thank you for giving me a glimpse of what it’s like to be a [Lynx player] and following a good example.”

Another teammate who spoke about Moore during the ceremony was Seimone Augustus , who is another Lynx player with a jersey in the rafters at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

“[Moore] came in as the baby, and we got to see her grow, we got to see her go through her struggles, and see her evolution as not only a player, but as a person,” Augustus said during the ceremony .

Moore is just the fifteenth player ever in WNBA history to have her jersey retired, and the fifth ever Lynx recipient. The Lynx have the most numbers retired across all WNBA franchises.

Moore’s Esteemed Basketball Career

Prior to her playing days in Minnesota, Moore was a two-time NCAA champion with the UConn Huskies. Her time in Storrs also led to four First-Team All-American selections and the Most Outstanding Player award during the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Moore was then taken first overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft, a seminal moment that would ultimately change the Lynx and their franchise forever.

With four WNBA championships, a Finals MVP, a league MVP, six All-Star game appearances, a Rookie of the Year award and even two Olympic gold medals, Moore will undoubtedly go down as not only one of the most accomplished players in Lynx history, but in women’s basketball history.

While Moore may have only played eight seasons – as she took a break and then ultimately retired from the WNBA due to her efforts in activism – she is also undoubtedly headed for Springfield and the Basketball Hall-of-Fame.

“You helped us all elevate our games to another level and we reached new heights that we probably didn’t even think we would achieve by winning four championships and doing so many awesome things together, so I thank you for that,” Augustus said . “And I also like the way you did it: real quick, in and out, got it in in eight years and you got out.”

It was fitting to have a ceremony of such recognition for a Lynx player, given the season they are having this year in the WNBA.

With 10 games remaining in their season , the Commissioner’s Cup champion Lynx have already clinched a playoff spot . Minnesota is 22-8 and holds the first place position in the Western Conference above the Seattle Storm.

The Lynx will take on the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. on August 28.

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