that Minnesota Rinse A tribute ceremony was held on Saturday to honor retired four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore, a celebration of her past accomplishments and future impact.
The highlight of the event, which followed the Rins’ 90-80 win over the Indiana Fever in front of their largest crowd ever, was the hoisting of Moore’s No. 23 jersey onto the Target Center beam.
“My life is an example of what it looks like when we love a little girl.” Moore said. “I can’t see it (the ceremony) without love. So many people have reached out to me and shown me what life is. That’s what I try to bring every day, life and joy, because I’ve been a recipient of life and joy.”
The celebration was attended by Moore’s teammates from the 2017 WNBA Championship team, including Rebecca Brunson, Lindsey Whelan, Sylvia Fowles and Samone Augustus.
The 2014 WNBA MVP was showered with gifts ranging from a custom box and letter jacket to several pairs of gold shoes, following a video montage highlighting her playing career.
It was no coincidence that the retirement ceremony took place after the Indiana game. Fever rookie Caitlin Clark repeatedly cited Moore as her favorite player of all time. And Moore’s career highlight was probably when she hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final minutes of the 2015 WNBA Finals against the Fever.
“I don’t want this night to end,” she said through tears. “My favorite people in the world are here with me.”
Moore left the WNBA in 2018 at the age of 29 at the height of her career to help overturn then-inmate Jonathan Irons’ robbery and assault convictions. He was eventually released from prison in 2020, and they married a few days later.
Moore continues her advocacy work with Win With Justice, a foundation she founded with Irons, and the couple welcomed their first child in 2022.
The two-time NCAA champion and Player of the Year at the University of Connecticut, as well as a two-time Olympic gold medalist, officially retired from basketball last year.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY. Minnesota Lynx Retires Maya Moore’s No. 23 in Emotional Ceremony
