Two-time Olympic basketball champion Maya Moore announces retirement
The London 2012 and Rio 2016 gold medallist won four WNBA championships with the Minnesota Lynx, two world championship titles and two NCAA titles with University of Connecticut.
Basketball
Two-time Olympic gold medallist and four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore has officially confirmed her retirement from basketball.
The 33-year-old announced her decision on Monday (16 January) on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’.
Moore took a step back from the WNBA in 2019 to focus on criminal justice reform. During that time, she worked on the release of her now-husband Jonathan Irons, whose 50-year prison sentence she helped overturn in 2020. The couple welcomed their first child, Jonathan Jr, in July last year:
“I think it’s time to put a close to the pro basketball like,” Moore said in an interview. “I walked away four seasons ago but wanted to officially retire... The work we’ve done. I want to continue that in our next chapter.”
Maya Moore: Calling time on a stellar basketball career
Selected as the No 1 pick in the 2011 draft by the Minnesota Lynx, Moore played out her entire eight-year career at the franchise winning the WNBA title four times (2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017).
Her particular efforts in lifting the Lynx to glory are reflected in her collection of individual accolades including a Finals MVP crown (2013), a league MVP title (2014) and six All-Star selections.
She finishes her WNBA career having averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals as well as being a franchise leader in scoring average, three-point field goals made (530) and steals (449).
Away from the WNBA on the international stage Moore also enjoyed several successes with Team USA.
Officially named to the national team in 2010, the forward played her role in forging its formidable reputation. She helped her country to two Olympic gold medals (London 2012 and Rio 2016) and to two FIBA world titles (2010 and 2014), the latter at which, she was crowned tournament MVP.
With the two NCAA titles she won during her college years at the University of Connecticut, Moore retires to one of women's basketball's most elite groups. Her unique collection of accolades mean she is one of only 10 players to hold a world championship gold medal, Olympic gold medal, an NCAA title and WNBA title.
Other names to claim the same feat include Sue Bird and Brittney Griner.