Maya Moore, a six-time WNBA All-Star and the league’s MVP in 2014, will not be playing professional basketball in 2019 in order to focus on her personal life. The Minnesota Lynx superstar announced her plans in a story published Tuesday on The Players’ Tribune, saying the move allows her to put more time into her family and faith.
“My focus in 2019 will not be on professional basketball, but will instead be on the people in my family, as well as on investing my time in some ministry dreams that have been stirring in my heart for many years,” Moore wrote.
“I will certainly miss the day-to-day relationships with my teammates and basketball family this season, but my no for the 2019 pro season allows me to say yes to my family and faith family like I never have before.”
Moore, 29, didn’t clarify in the post whether she plans to return to basketball in 2020 or beyond. She played in 271 of 272 regular season games since the Lynx selected her with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. During that time, Moore led the Lynx to six WNBA Finals and four championships.
Last season was the first time the Lynx won fewer than 20 games in Moore’s career. She averaged 18 points and a league-leading 1.7 steals per game, but the Lynx were eliminated by the Sparks in the opening round of the postseason.
