Maya Moore

A four-time All-American, she was recognized as the Naismith Prep Player of the Year in both 2006 and 2007, and earned the John Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year in 2009 and 2011. Her professional career began in 2011 as the first overall draft pick by the Minnesota Lynx, where she immediately earned the WNBA Rookie of the Year award and led the team to its first WNBA Championship in the same year. Moore was instrumental in the Minnesota Lynx’s dominant era, securing three additional WNBA championships in 2013, 2015, and 2017. Her individual accolades include the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP, the 2014 WNBA MVP, and three WNBA All-Star Game MVP awards in 2015, 2017, and 2018.

This profound commitment to causes beyond the basketball court earned her the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award for Courage in 2021 and a place on Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, highlighting her influence as a leading voice for justice. Moore officially announced her retirement from professional basketball in 2023, solidifying her legacy as one of the most successful and impactful women’s basketball players in history, recognized for both her athletic achievements and her profound social activism. Her iconic jersey number 23 was retired by the Minnesota Lynx in 2024. Building on her remarkable career, Moore is slated for induction into the WNBA Hall of Fame in 2024 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, further cementing her enduring impact on the sport.