Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx on the break away in the final moments of the game against the San Antonio Silver Stars in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 WNBA Playoffs on September 16, 2011 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

From the moment she entered the league, Maya Moore didn’t just win; she defined what winning looked like.

Selected No. 1 overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2011 WNBA Draft following a dominant career at the University of Connecticut, Moore quickly became the centerpiece of one of the most successful eras in league history.

During her eight seasons in Minnesota from 2011 to 2018, the Lynx reached six WNBA Finals and won four championships, establishing a dynasty built on consistency, excellence, and winning at the highest level.

Her impact was immediate. In 2011, Moore became just the second player in WNBA history to win Rookie of the Year and a WNBA championship in the same season, setting the tone for a career defined by historic milestones.

Minnesota returned to the top again in 2013, when Moore led the Lynx to another title and earned WNBA Finals MVP honors. One year later, she captured league MVP after averaging a career high 23.9 points per game during the 2014 season.

The championships continued. From 2015 through 2017, the Lynx remained a dominant force, with Moore securing her third and fourth WNBA titles as Minnesota’s dynasty extended across the decade.

In 2019, Moore stepped away from basketball to focus on her work in criminal justice reform. She officially retired in 2023, leaving behind one of the most decorated careers in basketball history.

Across high school, UConn, and the WNBA, Moore built a legacy defined by championships, impact, and excellence that reached far beyond the game.

Keep checking the WNBA App throughout the month for more Black History stories in women’s basketball.