Is there a bigger honor than to have your legacy remembered and commemorated years after you left? Maya Moore may certainly believe so today. Playing for the Minnesota Lynx for 7 years, the WNBA star’s stint may not have been very long, but it was certainly fruitful. After all, she walked away with over 4 Championships, 1 MVP, and numerous other accolades. A new chapter is added to her legacy, as Moore’s No. 23 jersey has been officially retired by the Lynx. Messages of love and respect came in from all sides, with two of the most prominent NBA talismans tipping their hat.

Having witnessed the emotional ceremony, LeBron James took to his official X account to highlight Maya Moore’s jersey finally hanging, alongside that of 4 other former hoopers, within the walls of the Target Center. Unable to contain his excitement, the Lakers legend wrote, “CONGRATULATIONS 23!!!! Absolute LEGEND!!” Moore would certainly be pleased to receive flowers from someone who not only dawns the same number as her but also boasts the same number of NBA Championship trophies.

LeBron James wasn’t the only one who sent out his love, Michael Jordan also chimed in. Given the Bulls legend’s zero presence on social media, his Jordan Brand decided to honor the player differently. Before the official jersey retirement, she was gifted a special jacket, along with a pair of golden Air Jordans that signified her achievements over her 7-year stint with the Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA. This was the perfect way for the brand to pay tribute to the first female athlete who was picked to endorse them, back in 2011!

While the praise from arguably the two GOATs of basketball would have been enough, Maya Moore’s honor-filled ceremony would’ve been incomplete if she hadn’t received support from thousands of her fans as well. Fortunately, there was an abundance of it.

Maya Moore’s “true icon” status draws hearts from the unified community

Taking to social media, one commenter outright gave the GOAT status to Maya Moore, saying “the true 🐐”. During her WNBA stint, Maya Moore averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Not only did she lead the Lynx to their 4 WNBA titles, but she also secured the Finals MVP and MVP titles along the way. Even today, she continues to hold the all-time scoring record in WNBA Finals history, at 441 points!

A netizen highlighted that not everyone gets to achieve this level of success before their 30 birthday. While she paid tribute to the former player by calling her a true icon, she also questioned, “All of her accomplishments came before she was 30. Crazy to think what could have been, but she’s shown there is more to life than pro sports. She’s a true icon as a player and as a person.💚💙”

Maya stepped away from basketball in 2019, right at her peak, so that she could focus more on overturning the 50-year conviction of a man named Jonathon Irons. Imprisoned in ’97, Irons would meet the future WNBA star in 2007, correspond over letters and phone calls, and eventually develop a relationship.

Having already been advocating for racial justice since 2016, Maya Moore took a break from the WNBA and launched a campaign to draw attention to Irons’ case. Her efforts tipped the scale: The conviction charge was overturned in March 2020, and they would marry 9 days after his release. The WNBA star did not choose to return to the basketball court after that, and officially retired in 2023.

One commenter believed that LeBron James was certainly someone who Maya Moore looked up to upon her entry into the WNBA. However, he also seemed to believe, “But I do think she retired early and quit on the game because MJ influenced her since he quit as well in ‘94 and she coincidentally is signed with Jordan Brand. I’m sure if she joined your brand she would’ve continued to play longer blessing us with more greatness.”

As highlighted above, that certainly does not seem to be the case because Michael Jordan initially retired at the age of 30 and claimed a lack of desire to play. The reasons, however, were totally different in Maya Moore’s case.

An individual highlighted how, by getting her jersey retired, Maya Moore was joining the ranks of Sylvia Fowles, Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, and Seimone Augustus. The reunion, per the commenter’s belief, was bringing back “one of the greatest starting five lineups in the history of the WNBA.”

The 5 players were key contributors for the Lynx between 2011-2018, a period that may go down in history as the franchise’s golden era. Along with Moore’s accolades, Sylvia Fowles won 3 of her 4 Defensive Player of the Year titles during the period. Augustus would receive All-WNBA team honors, and Brunson would be made a part of the All-Defensive Second Team. Not many chose to stick long after Maya Moore’s exit and retired between 2018 and 19. Now, all five are honored, with their jerseys officially retired.

Another commenter highlighted, “Maya’s legacy will inspire generations. So well-deserved!” Before the jersey retirement, the Lynx held a game against the Indiana Fever. Despite being on the rival team, Caitlin Clark did her part to respect the guest of honor. During the shoot-around period, the 22-year-old was captured wearing a ‘Maya Moore retirement shirt’ alongside the rest of her teammates.

The young gun has been open about Maya Moore being her idol, recalling how she and her father would drive for 4 hours to Minneapolis to see a Lynx game. She called playing in the arena where Moore’s jersey would be retired a “full circle” moment.

Overall, the reactions were positive towards Maya Moore’s jersey retirement. While many asked the classic ‘What if’ question, others were content that such an individual existed, even for a limited time, on the WNBA court.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.