Maya Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Maya Moore

Moore in 2019
Personal information
Born	(1989-06-11) June 11, 1989 (age 36) Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S.
High school	Collins Hill (Suwanee, Georgia)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	UConn (2007–2011)
NBA Draft	2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall
Selected by the Minnesota Lynx
Pro career	2011–2018
Career history
2011–2018	Minnesota Lynx
2011–2012	Ros Casares Valencia
2012–2016	Shanxi Flame
2018	UMMC Ekaterinburg
Career highlights and awards
4× WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) WNBA Finals MVP (2013) WNBA MVP (2014) 6× WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013–2015, 2017–2018) 3× WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2015, 2017, 2018) 5× All-WNBA First Team (2013–2017) 2× All-WNBA Second Team (2012, 2018) 2× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2014, 2017) WNBA steals leader (2018) WNBA scoring leader (2014) WNBA Rookie of the Year (2011) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2011) WNBA 20th Anniversary Team (2016) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) No. 23 retired by Minnesota Lynx FIBA World Championship MVP (2014) 2× EuroLeague Women champion (2012, 2018) Liga Femenina champion (2012) 3× WCBA champion (2013–2015) 2× NCAA champion (2009–2010) NCAA Tournament MOP (2010) Senior CLASS Award (2011) 4× First-team All-American – AP (2008–2011) 3× CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team (2009–2011) 4× All-American – State Farm Coaches', USBWA (2008–2011) 3× Wade Trophy (2009–2011) 2× Naismith College Player of the Year (2009, 2011) 2× John R. Wooden Award (2009, 2011) 2× AP College Player of the Year (2009, 2011) 2× USBWA Women's National Player of the Year (2009, 2011) 2× Honda Sports Award for basketball (2010, 2011) 2x Honda-Broderick Cup (2010, 2011) 3× Big East Player of the Year (2008, 2009, 2011) 2x Big East Tournament MOP (2009, 2011) 2× Academic All-America of the Year (2010–2011) All-sports Academic All-America of the Year (2011) 4x First-team All-Big East (2008–2011) Big East Freshman of the Year (2008) Big East All-Freshman Team (2008) USBWA National Freshman of the Year (2008) Gatorade National Player of the Year (2007) McDonald's All-American (2007)
Medals Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 2012 London Team Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Championship Gold 2010 Czech Republic Gold 2014 Turkey World University Games Gold 2009 Belgrade Team Competition

Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is an American social justice advocate and former professional basketball player. She is known as one of the greatest winners in women's basketball history. In 2024, Maya Moore was chosen for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

During high school, Moore was named the National Gatorade Player of the Year. She also won the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year award. She played as a forward for the UConn women's basketball team. There, she helped them win two national championships in a row in 2009 and 2010.

Moore was the first player picked in the 2011 WNBA draft. She joined the Minnesota Lynx team, which already had star players. Moore has won four WNBA championships, a WNBA MVP Award, and two Olympic gold medals. She also won a WNBA Scoring Title and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. Moore has also played in other countries, winning titles in Spain and China.

Maya Moore is one of only 11 women to win an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold, and a WNBA Championship. She was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2020.

Maya Moore's Early Life

Maya Moore was born on June 11, 1989, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Her mother, Kathryn Moore, introduced her to basketball at age three. She put a hoop on the back door of their apartment. Maya went to Moreau Heights Elementary School and then Creekland Middle School.

High School Basketball Star

Moore was a key player for four years at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County. Her team had an amazing record of 125 wins and only 3 losses. In her junior year (2005–06), she averaged 23.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. She was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year, becoming only the second junior to win this award.

As a senior, she averaged 25.5 points and 12.1 rebounds. In December 2006, she scored 48 points in one game. Moore helped her high school team reach the state championships four times. They won three Georgia state titles and the 2007 National Championship. She finished her high school career as the all-time leader for Collins Hill in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Maya was also an excellent student, graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Playing for the Georgia Metros

Maya Moore played for the Georgia Metros 16U Nike Travel Team in 2005 and 2006. Her team had a great record of 73 wins and 6 losses. Maya led them to four National Championships. This included the AAU 16U National Championship in 2005, where she was named MVP at just 15 years old.

College Basketball Journey

Amazing Freshman Year

In her first year at UConn, Moore was named the Big East Preseason Freshman of the Year. On November 11, 2007, she played her first college game. She scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Moore scored 678 points in her freshman year, which was a new record for UConn freshmen. She also set six other UConn freshman records.

She was named the Big East Freshman of the Year. She also became the first freshman, male or female, to be named the Big East Player of the Year. Moore was named a first-team All-American by several groups.

Sophomore Success

Moore playing for UConn in 2009.

On November 16, 2008, Moore started her sophomore season with 20 points and 14 rebounds. On January 17, 2009, she scored 40 points and had 13 rebounds against Syracuse. Moore became the fastest UConn player to reach 1,000 career points.

She was again named Big East Player of the Year. Moore led her team to a perfect 39–0 season and the 2009 National Championship. She won the AP Player of the Year award, becoming the first sophomore to do so. She also won the Naismith College Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award.

Junior Year Championships

Moore led her team to another perfect 39–0 season and the 2010 National Championship. She was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. On March 7, she became the fifth player in UConn history to score 2,000 points.

Moore won the Wade Trophy as the best women's college basketball player. She was named a first-team All-American. Moore also won Best Women's College Basketball Player at the 2010 ESPYs.

Senior Year and Records

In her last year at UConn, Moore had her best scoring season, averaging 22.3 points per game. On March 29, she became the first player in UConn history to reach 3,000 points. She won her second Naismith College Player of the Year award and her third straight Wade Trophy.

During her college career, Moore won 150 games and lost only four. She scored a total of 3,036 points, which is the most ever for a UConn player. She is the only women's basketball player in Division I history to record 2,500 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, 250 steals, and 150 blocked shots.

Moore was also an excellent student. She graduated with a 3.7 GPA. After college, the Minnesota Lynx picked her as the first overall player in the 2011 WNBA draft. She also became the first female basketball player to sign with the Jordan Brand.

Professional Basketball Career

Maya Moore's professional career was full of championships. In her first three years, she played in many finals and won five out of six possible championships. She became known as one of the best professional women's players.

Dominating the WNBA

Rookie Season and First Championship (2011)

Moore (top) and teammate Taj McWilliams-Franklin at a 2011 victory parade.

The Minnesota Lynx picked Moore as the first overall player in the 2011 WNBA draft. She joined a strong team with players like Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus. Moore helped the Lynx achieve their best record ever. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Month twice.

Moore was her team's second-highest scorer during the playoffs. In October 2011, Maya became only the second player to win Rookie of the Year and a WNBA championship in the same year.

More Championships and MVP Award (2012-2013)

Moore handling the ball in a 2012 home game.

In 2012, Moore helped the Lynx start the season with 10 wins in a row. This was the best start in WNBA history. The Lynx reached the 2012 WNBA Finals but lost to the Indiana Fever.

In 2013, Moore played even better. She led the Lynx in points. She also became the first WNBA player to lead the league in both three-pointers made and three-point shooting percentage. The Lynx had the best record in the WNBA again. They won their second WNBA championship. Moore was named WNBA Finals MVP.

Winning MVP (2014)

In 2014, Moore set a new WNBA record by scoring 30 or more points in four games in a row. On July 22, 2014, Maya scored a career-high 48 points. This was the second-highest score in a single WNBA game ever. She averaged a career-high 23.9 points per game. For the first time, Moore won the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award. The Lynx made it to the Western Conference Finals but lost to the Phoenix Mercury.

All-Star MVP and Third Championship (2015)

Maya Moore at the 2015 All-Star game, where she won the MVP award.

Before the 2015 season, Moore signed a new contract with the Lynx. In 2015, she was named to the 2015 WNBA All-Star Game. She won the MVP award after scoring a record 30 points. The Lynx won their third WNBA championship in five years. In Game 3 of the finals, Moore made a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.

Finals and Fourth Championship (2016-2017)

In 2016, Moore was chosen for the WNBA Top 20@20 list. This list celebrated the league's best 20 players for its 20th anniversary. She was the youngest player on the list. The Lynx had a new franchise best record of 28–6. They reached the WNBA Finals for the fifth time in six years. They played against the Los Angeles Sparks but lost in Game 5.

Moore during the Lynx's championship-clinching game 5 of the 2017 WNBA Finals.

In 2017, Moore was voted into her fifth 2017 WNBA All-Star Game. She won her second All-Star MVP award. The Lynx finished as the number 1 team in the league. They advanced to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in seven years. They beat the Sparks in five games to win their fourth WNBA championship. This tied the Houston Comets for the most championship titles.

New Challenges and Retirement (2018-2022)

On July 22, 2018, Moore scored a season-high 38 points. She was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game and won her third All-Star MVP award. The Lynx finished with an 18–16 record. They lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in the first round of the playoffs. This ended their streak of three straight finals appearances.

In February 2019, Moore announced she would miss the upcoming season. She wanted to focus on her family and other goals. In January 2020, she said she would miss the WNBA season and the 2020 Olympic games. She wanted to focus on helping change the justice system.

From 2019 to 2023, Moore took a break from basketball. She focused on helping people in the American justice system. On January 16, 2023, Moore officially announced her retirement from basketball.

Playing Overseas: Europe and China

Winning in Europe (2011-2012)

Moore played for the Spanish club Ros Casares Valencia in the 2011–2012 season. She helped Ros Casares win its first ever EuroLeague Women championship on April 1, 2012. Three weeks later, they also won the Spanish domestic league title.

Three Championships in China (2012-2015)

Moore defending an inbound pass during a January 2014 WCBA game in Shanghai.

In 2012, Moore signed with the Chinese club Shanxi Flame. In her third game, she scored 60 points. She led the Flame to the championship in her first season. Moore averaged 37.3 points per game that year.

In her second year with Shanxi, she again led her team to the finals. She averaged 43.3 points per game and won another championship. This was Moore's fifth professional championship in three years. In the 2014–2015 season, Shanxi won its third championship in a row.

Moore was very popular in Shanxi. Fans called her the "Invincible Queen." She was even given the title "Honorary Citizen of Taiyuan" for her contributions.

Second EuroLeague Title (2018)

On January 2, 2018, Moore joined the Russian basketball club UMMC Ekaterinburg. She helped UMMC win the EuroLeague Championship on April 22. Moore scored 17 points in the final game.

Playing for Team USA

Moore playing for the USA national team.

Moore was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in 2009. She was one of only three college players invited. The team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2012 Olympics was chosen from these players.

Moore was selected to be part of the National team for the 2010 World Championship. The team won its first game by 26 points. They continued to win by large margins. The US team won the championship and a gold medal. Moore averaged 8.7 points per game.

Moore in the 2012 Olympics.

Moore was one of 21 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team. Moore won a gold medal with Team USA in 2012. By doing so, she joined an elite group of female basketball players. These players have won NCAA titles, WNBA Championships, and Olympic gold medals.

Moore was also chosen for the U.S. Women's FIBA World Championship team in 2014. She won the gold medal with the team. She was named to the all-tournament team and won the tournament MVP award.

USA Basketball named Moore to the team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. This was her second Olympic tournament. Moore earned her second gold medal, helping the US beat Spain 101–72 in the final.

Maya Moore's Basketball Stats

High school

Maya Moore played in 128 games over four seasons. She averaged 19.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game.

College

WNBA

Regular season

Postseason

Maya Moore's Social Justice Work

Moore speaking at The Marshall Project in Washington, D.C. in 2019.

On July 9, 2016, Moore and her teammate Rebekkah Brunson spoke out. They wore warm-up shirts to support the Black Lives Matter movement. The shirts called for "Justice and Accountability." They also honored police officers who had been killed. This was one of the first Black Lives Matter protests by athletes.

In 2017, Moore started "Win with Justice." This group works to improve the justice system. Experts say Moore is special because she used her fame to help people. She became one of the top voices for civil rights among athletes. In 2021, ESPN Films released Breakaway, a movie about Moore's work. Moore won the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage in 2021 for her efforts.

Moore also supports the End it Movement. This group works to stop modern slavery.

Maya Moore's Personal Life

Moore in 2009.

Moore is a Christian. She has often talked about her faith. She believes her basketball platform helps her do good in the world.

Moore took a break from basketball in 2019 and 2020. She wanted to help a man named Jonathan Irons. He was serving a long prison sentence. Moore worked to get him released. Irons was set free on July 1, 2020. In September 2020, Moore announced that she and Irons had gotten married. On July 5, 2022, they welcomed their first child, a son named Jonathan Irons Jr. In 2023, they wrote a book together called Love and Justice.

Moore's father, Mike Dabney, also played college basketball. He was picked by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1976 NBA draft. Moore has two half-sisters, Ashley and Olivia, who also played basketball.

Awards and Honors

• She was named to the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2006.
• In 2008, she was the first freshman (male or female) to be named Big East Player of the Year.
• Moore broke the UConn record for most points as a freshman (678 points).
• She scored her 1,000th career point in just her 55th game at UConn.
• Moore won the 2010 ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete.
• She was invited to play basketball with President Barack Obama and other stars.
• In March 2011, Moore became the second four-time All-American women's basketball player.

Maya Moore accepting the Wade trophy for the best NCAA Division I player in the USA.

• Moore has been invited to the White House five times for honors.

2007

• Naismith National Girls' High School Player of the Year
• WBCA High School Coaches' All-America Team

2008

• Big East Freshman of the Year
• Big East Player of the Year
• USBWA National Freshman of the Year
• Unanimous All-America First Team

2009

Maya Moore in Parade celebrating UConn's undefeated National Championship.

• Big East Player of the Year
• USBWA Women's National Player of the Year
• Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year
• Wade Trophy
• Naismith College Player of the Year
• John R. Wooden Award
• Unanimous All-America First Team
• ESPY for Best Female College Athlete

2010

• Wade Trophy
• Unanimous All-America First Team
• NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player
• Honda Sports Award, basketball
• Honda-Broderick Cup, co-winner
• ESPY for Best Female College Athlete

2011

• Wade Trophy
• Associated Press Women's College Basketball Player of the Year
• Naismith College Player of the Year
• John R. Wooden Award
• USBWA Women's National Player of the Year
• Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
• Honda Sports Award, basketball
• Big East Player of the Year
• Unanimous All-America First Team
• Honda-Broderick Cup
• ESPY for Best Female College Athlete
• 2011 WNBA All-Star
• WNBA All-Rookie Team
• WNBA Rookie of the Year
• WNBA Champion

2012

• EuroLeague Women Champion
• Olympic Gold Medalist, Women's Basketball

2013

• WNBA Champion
• WCBA Champion
• 2013 WNBA All-Star
• First Team All-WNBA
• WNBA Finals MVP

2014

• WCBA Champion
• ESPY for Best WNBA Player
• 2014 WNBA All-Star
• All-WNBA First Team
• WNBA MVP
• FIBA Gold Medalist, Women's Basketball
• MVP of FIBA World Championships for Women

2015

• WNBA Champion
• 2015 WNBA All-Star
• WNBA All-Star Game MVP
• All-WNBA First Team

2016

Moore at the 2016 WNBA Finals.

• ESPY for Best WNBA Player
• All-WNBA First Team
• Olympic Gold Medalist

2017

• WNBA Champion
• All-WNBA First Team
• WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
• Western Conference All-Star
• WNBA All-Star Game MVP

2021

• Arthur Ashe Courage Award

2023

• All-25 Team, Minnesota Lynx

2024

• To be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
• Number 23 jersey retired by the Minnesota Lynx.

Images for kids

• 

  Moore playing for the USA national team against the Select team.

• 

  Moore playing for the USA Select team against the USA national team.

See also

In Spanish: Maya Moore para niños

• List of NCAA Division I women's basketball career scoring leaders
• List of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball players with 1000 points
• List of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball players with 1000 rebounds
• Connecticut Huskies women's basketball