Maya Moore

Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is an American professional basketball player at forward for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and the Shanxi Flame of the Chinese league. Moore was the winner of the 2006 and 2007 Naismith Prep Player of the Year. She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to the undefeated national championship. The following season, Moore led Connecticut to its second straight national championship and continued its overall undefeated streak at 78; in the 2010–11 season, she led the Huskies in extending that streak to an NCAA both-gender record (all divisions) of 90. On May 18, 2011, Moore became the first female basketball player to sign with Jordan Brand.[1]

Moore was the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft, and joined a Minnesota Lynx team that already featured all-star caliber players in Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. Moore was the third-leading scorer on the team during the regular season with 13.2 points per game, which led all rookies. Moore earned Rookie of the Year honors.[2] Moore then helped lead her team to its first WNBA championship, the second number one draft pick to do so.

Since 2011, Moore has continued to excel, both with the Lynx and with overseas teams in Europe and China. Moore also won a gold medal with the U.S. women's basketball team in the 2012 London Olympics. She won her second WNBA championship in 2013, in a series where she was named MVP.[3]

Early life[edit] Maya April Moore was born on June 11, 1989 in Jefferson City, Missouri. She is the daughter of Kathryn Moore. [4] Moore had her first exposure to basketball at the age of three when her mother mounted a hoop on the back door of their apartment.[5]

High School Career[edit] As a junior in 2005–06, she was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year after leading Collins Hill High School to Georgia's Class 5A state championship. She was only the second junior to win the Naismith award[6] Her first dunk was one-handed off an alley-oop pass in warm-ups at a dunk contest in Charlotte, NC in December 2005. She was 16 at the time.[7]

In December 2006, she led the Collins Hill Eagles over Poly (Long Beach, California) by a score of 75–61, resulting in her being selected unanimously as the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament of Champions in Chandler, Arizona. In the title game of the "T-Mobile Invitational" in Seattle, she scored 48 points in a win over St. Elizabeth (Wilmington, Delaware).

In 2007, Moore became Collins Hill High School's all-time leader in points and rebounds. During her four seasons at Collins Hill, the school amassed a 125–3 record.[6] Moore won 3 Georgia Class 5A State Championships. Collins Hill was ranked No. 1 and claimed the crown of National Champions in 2007 by USA Today (Ranked No. 2 in 2006 and Ranked No. 5 in 2005). Moore announced that she would play college basketball at the University of Connecticut.[8]

After she led Collins Hill High School to a third straight Georgia Class 5A state championship she received her second Naismith Prep Female Player of the Year in 2007.

Moore was named a WBCA All-American.[9] She participated in the 2007 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored 25 points[10] and earned MVP honors for the Red team.[11]

Time with the Georgia Metros[edit] Maya Moore played for the Georgia Metros 16U Nike Travel Team in both 2005 and 2006. The Georgia Metros went 73-6 in those two travel seasons, and Maya led them to four National Championships: The AAU 16U National Championship in Orlando (where she was the MVP, as a 15 year old) in 2005; the US Junior Nationals Championship in DC, twice, in both 2005 and 2006; and the Nike Nationals Championship in 2006. Notable teammates while with the Georgia Metros included Kelly Cain (Tennessee), Ashley Houts (Georgia), Alicia Manning (Tennessee), Morgan Toles (Auburn/FSU), Charenee Stevens (South Carolina), Taylor Turnbow (LSU), Jordan Greenleaf (Auburn), and D'Andra Moss (VCU).

University of Connecticut[edit] Moore led the Huskies to a 36–2 record in the 2007–08 NCAA season, their best record since their Final Four appearance of 2004. During the season, Moore averaged a team-high 17.8 points per game, and hit 42% of her three point shots. She was second to Candace Parker in the Associated Press Player of the Year voting. Moore also placed second on the team in rebounds with 7.6 per game and blocks with 1.6 per game. She was the first freshman, male or female, to be named the Big East Player of the Year. Moore won the award again as a sophomore. Moore's teammate, Tina Charles, won the award in 2010, while Moore went on to win the award in 2011, joining Villanova's Shelly Pennefather and former UConn player Kerry Bascom as three-time recipients.[12]

In 2010, Moore led the team in scoring and steals, and tied Charles for total rebounds en route to a 39–0 season, culminating in an NCAA National Championship.[13]

On March 7, against Syracuse, Maya Moore scored the 2,000th point of her college career. She is the first player at UConn to accomplish this feat as a junior.[14]

“	Working hard and playing good team basketball, respecting the game and trying to bring it as much honor as we can is a beautiful thing. ” —Maya Moore[15] During the 2009–10 season, some of the sports media considered whether the dominance of the UConn program was bad for women’s basketball. Some concluded it was not bad for the game, and supported the notions of playing hard and trying to play a beautiful game.[15]

Moore was the subject of an ESPN Sports Science video clip, discussing her vertical leap, court vision, and muscle memory. They discussed her ability to steal, noting that she can move her hands faster than the striking speed of a rattlesnake.[16]

Moore was named an AP First team All-American, the fourth time she has earned the honor, and only the second player in history to earn First Team honors for four years. The first such recipient was Courtney Paris.[17]

USA Basketball[edit] Moore was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp in the fall of 2009, one of only three college players and the only junior to be invited to the training camp.[18] The team selected to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Olympics was chosen from these participants. At the conclusion of the training camp, the team traveled to Ekaterinburg, Russia, where they competed in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational.[18]

Moore was one of twenty players named to the national team pool. Twelve of this group were chosen to represent the USA in the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics.[19]

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

Moore playing for USA Select team against the USA National team. The USA National team began training in April 2010 to prepare for the FIBA World Championship starting in September 2010. Moore was one of the players selected for the training sessions, run by the national team coach Geno Auriemma. The teams played informal scrimmages, with one team made up of the players expected to be on the national team, and the other team made up of invited all star college players, referred to as the select team. Although Moore was still in college, she was invited to be part of the national team. In the first two ten-minute games, Moore played with the national team and helped them to two wins. Then Moore switched jerseys, and played for the select team. In both games, the select team won, with Moore making the assist to put the team ahead, then stealing the ball and making the game winning shot in the final seconds. Moore ended up being on the winning side in all four games.[20]

Moore was named as one of the National team members to represent the USA Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball.[21] This game replaced the normal WNBA All-Star game with WNBA All-Stars versus USA Basketball, as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women to be held in the Czech Republic during September and October 2010. Moore was selected to be a member of the National team representing the USA at the World Championships held in September and October of 2010. The team was coached by Geno Auriemma. Because many team members were still playing in the WNBA until just prior to the event, the team had only one day of practice with the entire team before leaving for Ostrava and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Even with limited practice, the team managed to win its first games against Greece by 26 points. The team continued to dominate with victory margins exceeding 20 points in the first five games. Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lindsay Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorer in the first few games. The sixth game was against undefeated Australia — the USA jumped out to a 24-point lead and the USA prevailed 83–75. The USA won its next two games by over 30 points, then faced the host team, the Czech Republic, in the championship game. The USA team had only a five-point lead at halftime, which was cut to three points, but the Czechs never got closer. Team USA went on to win the championship and gold medal. Moore averaged 8.7 points per game.[22]

Moore was one of 21 finalists for the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team Roster. The 20 professional women's basketball payers, plus one collegiate player (Brittney Griner), were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee to compete for the final roster to represent the USA at the 2012 Olympics in London.[23] Moore won a gold medal with Team USA in 2012, in doing so joining Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Ruth Riley, Tamika Catchings and fellow UConn alums Kara Wolters, Swin Cash, Sue Bird, and Diana Taurasi on the elite list of female basketball players to have won NCAA titles, WNBA Championships and Olympic gold medals.

Professional basketball[edit] Maya Moore's professional career, like her high school and college career, has been filled with championships. In her first three years, she made three WNBA finals, one Eurobasket final, and two WCBA finals, and won five of the six possible championships she could have. Along the way, she has established herself as one of the best professional women's players in the game.

2011[edit] Moore was selected 1st overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx.[24] She joined a team that already featured talented players like Lindsay Whalen, Rebekkah Brunson, and Seimone Augustus, and helped the Lynx to their best record in franchise history, as well as the best record in the WNBA.[25] Moore was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for July and August, and played in the WNBA All-Star Game.[26][27] Though Moore admitted that she struggled at times to adapt to the extraordinary level of talent in the WNBA, her play still earned her Rookie of the Year honors.[28]

During the playoffs, Moore was her team's second-leading scorer. She led her team in scoring once, in the final game of the Western Conference finals, when she poured in 21 points, including six three-pointers.[29] In October 2011, Maya became only the second player in league history to win Rookie of the Year honors and a WNBA championship in the same year.[30][31]

2012[edit] In 2012, Moore helped the Lynx begin the season with a 10-0 run, the best start in WNBA history.[32] The Lynx went on to equal 2011's 27-7 mark, finishing as the top seed in the WNBA Playoffs for a second straight year. The Lynx advanced to the 2012 WNBA Finals, for the second straight season, but fell to the Indiana Fever.

2013[edit] 2013 was the best season of Moore's young career. She led the Lynx in points, and became the first player in WNBA history to lead the league in both three-point field goals and three-point shooting percentage.[33] Moore was twice selected WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month, and three times selected WNBA Western Conference Player of the Week. Meanwhile, the Lynx once again had the best record in the WNBA, finishing 26-8.

The Lynx swept through the playoffs, winning their second WNBA championship. Moore was named WNBA Finals MVP, leading her team in scoring two of the three games in the Finals.

2014[edit] In the fourth game of the 2014 season, Moore set a new WNBA record for scoring 30 or more points in four consecutive games.[34]

Overseas career[edit] Moore signed with Ros Casares Valencia of Euroleague Women for the 2011–2012 season. She joined the team late due to her title run with the Lynx and played the last 10 games, helping them to win the championship in her Euroleague rookie season.[35]

After Ros Casares ceased operation, Moore signed with the Chinese professional team Shanxi Xing Rui Flame.[36] She recorded 60 points, 13 rebounds, 6 blocks and 5 steals against Yunnan, and averaged a double-double and a staggering 45.5 points in her first 5 games with the team.[37] Moore finished her first season averaging 41.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, leading the Flame to a championship in their first year at the top level in Chinese women's basketball.[38]

In Moore's second year with Shanxi, she again took her team to the finals, averaging 43.3 points per game in a 3-1 series win over Beijing. It was Moore's fifth professional championship in three years.[39]

Personal life[edit] Moore is a Christian. More has spoken about her faith saying, "Even though I’ve got a lot of awards and honors, it’s nothing compared to what the Lord has done to my heart and what He’s done for the world" and "I’m grateful to have the platform of an elite student-athlete and professional basketball player, and I want to do His will with my life."[40][41]

On October 28, 2013, Moore was featured as Betty Lou in "Uncle Drew: Chapter 3"[42] of the Pepsi Max series of advertisements written and directed by Kyrie Irving. She is the first WNBA player to be a part of the series and alongside 'Lights' played by Nate Robinson and 'Uncle Drew' played by Irving, they hustle a courtyard of young players at Seward Park in Chicago, Illinois.

Awards and honors[edit] She was named to the U.S. U-18 National Team in 2006, and helped that team qualify for the 2007 U19 World Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia. In 2008, she became the first freshman in Big East Basketball history (men or women) to be named as the Big East Player of the Year. Through Moore's two seasons at UConn, Moore had only 3 games where she didn't reach double digits. Those games are a 7-point performance vs. Pittsburgh on March 10, 2008, 7 points vs. Rutgers on April 1, 2008 and 8 points vs. Villanova on February 24, 2009. Moore also broke the UConn single-season record for most points as a freshman (678) breaking the mark set by Svetlana Abrosimova, who had 538 in 1997–98. Scored her 1,000th career point on January 20, 2009 (in just her 55th game at UConn) at the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut while scoring 40 points over the Syracuse Orange. The previous UConn record for the least games needed to reach 1,000 points was 63 by Svetlana Abrosimova. Maya Moore becomes UConn's all-time single-season scoring leader with 712 points,[43] ends season with 754 points[44] Moore finished the 2009–10 season with 736 points, the second most points scored in a season by a UConn player only to herself (754 pts in 2008–09). In addition, this brings her career total to 2,168 points, 178 short of the UConn record of 2,346 points held by her teammate Tina Charles. Moore was named the co-winner of the Honda-Broderick Cup (along with Megan Hodge from Penn State), awarded to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. The criteria include "outstanding athletic achievement but also team contributions, scholastics and community involvement".[45][46] Moore won the 2010 ESPY Award for Best Female College Athlete.[47] Moore was selected to play in a basketball game organized by President Barack Obama to entertain wounded troops. The players invited included some current and former stars: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Bill Russell and Magic Johnson.[48][49] Moore scored a career-high 41 points while adding 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks in UConn's historic 89th consecutive victory on Dec. 21, 2010 against 22/22 Florida State. In March 2011, Moore earned All-American honors, becoming the second four-time All-American women's basketball player. In April 2011, Moore was named Associated Press Player of the Year for the second time.

Maya Moore accepting the Wade trophy for the best NCAA Division I player in the USA Moore was selected Best Female Amateur Athlete by Connecticut Magazine for 2010 Won a gold medal with Team USA in the London Olympics 2007[edit] Naismith National Girls' High School Player of the Year WBCA All-American[9] WBCA High School Game MVP (Red team)[11] 2008[edit] Big East Freshman of the Year Big East Player of the Year USBWA National Freshman of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association[50] AP All America First Team First freshman (man or woman) to be named Big East Player of the Year State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team 2009[edit] Maya Moore

Maya Moore in Parade celebrating UConn undefeated National Championship Big East Player of the Year[51] Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Performer[52] CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-America First Team[53] USBWA National Player of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association[50] AP All-America first team[54] Women's NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team[55] State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year[56] State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team[57] Naismith Trophy[58] Women's John R. Wooden Award[59] ESPY for Best Female College Athlete[60] 2010[edit] All-BIG EAST First Team (unanimous)[51] Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year[61] Academic All-America of the Year award[62] AP All-America First Team[63] State Farm Coaches' All-America Team[57] State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year[56] NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player[64] Honda Sports Award, basketball[65][66] Honda-Broderick Cup, co-winner[46] ESPY for Best Female College Athlete[47] Best Female Amateur Athlete by Connecticut Magazine[67] 2011[edit] Honda Sports Award, basketball[68] Elite 88 Award Division I women's basketball[69] AP All-America First Team[17] All-BIG EAST First Team[70] Big East Player of the Year[12] State Farm Wade Trophy Player of the Year[71] Lowe's Senior CLASS Award[72] Honda-Broderick Cup[73] ESPY for Best Female College Athlete 2011 WNBA All-Star WNBA All-Rookie Team WNBA Rookie of the Year WNBA Champion 2012[edit] EuroLeague Women Champion Olympic Gold Medalist, Women's Basketball 2013[edit] WNBA Champion WCBA Champion 2013 WNBA All-Star 2013 WNBA Western Conference Player of the Month (2x) First Team All-WNBA WNBA Finals MVP WNBA career statistics[edit] Legend GP	Games played	 GS 	Games started	 MPG 	Minutes per game	 RPG 	Rebounds per game	 APG 	Assists per game	 SPG 	Steals per game	 BPG 	Blocks per game PPG 	Points per game	 TO 	Turnovers per game	 FG% 	Field-goal percentage	 3P% 	3-point field-goal percentage	 FT% 	Free-throw percentage	 Bold 	Career high		League leader Regular season[edit] Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG 2011	Minnesota	34	34	28.0	.439	.369	.787	4.6	2.6	1.4	0.5	1.47	13.2 2012	Minnesota	34	34	29.7	.465	.388	.879	6.0	3.6	1.5	0.6	1.82	16.4 2013	Minnesota	34	34	31.4	.509	.453	.882	6.2	3.0	1.7	1.0	1.68	18.5 Career	3 years, 1 team	102	102	29.7	.473	.403	.854	5.6	3.1	1.5	0.7	1.66	16.0 Postseason[edit] Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG 2011	Minnesota	8	8	27.9	.458	.400	.690	5.9	2.3	1.0	0.6	1.88	13.8 2012	Minnesota	9	9	33.0	.429	.433	.913	5.2	2.8	1.0	0.6	1.67	16.6 2013	Minnesota	7	7	32.7	.531	.400	.882	5.3	2.7	1.6	0.4	1.43	20.9 Career	3 years, 1 team	24	24	31.2	.470	.416	.826	5.5	2.6	1.2	0.5	1.67	16.9 Other statistics[edit] High school stats[edit] Season	Games	PPG	RPG	SPG 2004–05	32	19.4	8.6	2.8 2005–06	32	23.2	11.3	5.4 High school totals[edit] Number of Seasons	Games	PPG	RPG	SPG 4	128	19.3	8.6	3.5 University of Connecticut statistics[edit] Maya Moore Statistics[74][75] at University of Connecticut Year	G	FG	FGA	PCT	3FG	3FGA	PCT	FT	FTA	PCT	REB	AVG	A	TO	B	S	MIN	PTS	AVG 2007–08	38	275	506	0.543	73	174	0.420	55	74	0.743	290	7.6	116	80	59	63	1121	678	17.8 2008–09	39	284	545	0.521	90	226	0.398	96	123	0.780	348	8.9	127	61	59	76	1209	754	19.3 2009–10	39	279	542	0.515	80	192	0.417	98	124	0.790	325	8.3	150	75	40	82	1098	736	18.9 2010–11	38	333	636	0.524	68	177	0.384	134	159	0.843	313	8.2	151	85	46	89	1255	868	22.8 Totals	154	1171	2229	0.525	311	769	0.404	383	480	0.798	1276	8.3	544	301	204	310	4683	3036	19.7 See also[edit] List of NCAA Division I women's basketball players with 3000 points 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 2008–09 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team 2009–10 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team