On Saturday, the Minnesota Lynx celebrated Maya Moore’s monumental impact on the franchise by retiring her jersey number, 23, in a memorable ceremony. Moore took the opportunity to address Lynx fans, reflecting on her enduring influence on both the Lynx and the WNBA.
Among the attendees was Indiana Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark, a rising star in the WNBA who stands as one of the prominent faces of the league’s future—a path that Moore helped pave. A striking photo captured Clark observing Moore’s tribute, surrounded by young fans sporting Clark jerseys, beautifully illustrating the continuity of Moore’s legacy.
.@CaitlinClark22 watching Maya Moore’s jersey retirement with all the young girls in 22 jerseys behind her 💙 pic.twitter.com/vJ4Hu4zSSl
— Bri Lewerke (@brilewerke) August 25, 2024
Clark has made significant waves this year, leading the league in jersey sales and securing high-profile partnerships with brands like State Farm and Gatorade, similar to the attention Moore garnered. Notably, Moore was the first female basketball player to sign with the Jordan Brand in 2011.
During her speech, Moore cleverly highlighted the choice to hold the ceremony against the Fever, reminiscing about a memorable career moment against the Indiana team:
“All you see in that picture is the [Indiana] fans just speechless as the shot is going up and then, you know, pump fake, one dribble right, it goes up,” Moore recalled, as reported by ESPN. “All I remember is it was so eerily quiet after the shot went in and then [Brunson] hugged me and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m back to life.'”
Moore’s last WNBA appearance was in 2018. She took a hiatus in 2019 to focus on criminal justice advocacy, officially retiring from the league in 2023.
