Who is Maya Moore? The WNBA star who helped release her husband Jonathan Irons from jail and Caitlin Clark paid tribute to

Maya Moore was immortalized in Minnesota Lynx legend Saturday night as the franchise retired her jersey. 

Moore's No. 23 jersey was raised to the rafters of the Target Center, honoring one of the greats in franchise as well as WNBA history.

The 35-year-old was already cemented as one of the sport's greats in the opinion of this year's Rookie of the Year contender, Caitlin Clark, who paid her own small tribute to the retired power forward. 

But throughout her career, Moore was just as accomplished off the court as she as on it as a social justice advocate. 

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at the illustrious career and achievements of the Hall of Famer. 

Maya Moore was immortalized in Lynx legend Saturday as the franchise retired her jersey

Who is Maya Moore? 

Maya Moore, born in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1989, is a WNBA and Minnesota Lynx legend, who had her jersey retired by the franchise Saturday night. 

Already inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, the power forward enjoyed a glittering career on the court.

In high school, Moore was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year, and a McDonald's All-American. 

She went on to play for UConn at collegiate level, winning back to back national championships in 2009 and 2010. 

She was selected as the John Wooden Award winner in 2009 after leading Connecticut to an undefeated national championship. During the following season -  when she led Connecticut to its second straight national championship and continued its overall undefeated streak at 78 - she became the first female basketball player to sign with Air Jordan.

She is one of 11 women to earn an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold and a WNBA Championship. 

To add to her accolades, Moore was also included in the list of Time Magazine's Most Influential People of 2020.

Already inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Moore enjoyed a glittering career 

Who is Maya Moore's husband, Jonathan Irons?

When Moore's husband Jonathan Irons was 16, he was arrested for the nonfatal shooting of a white homeowner Stanley Stotler during a burglary.

No DNA, fingerprints, footprints, or any physical evidence ever linked him to the crime but Irons was convicted by an all-white jury in 1998. 

He was handed a 50-year sentence for burglary and assault at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri.

Moore first met Irons at the at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in 2007, through her godparents, who had taken an interest in his case. They began communicating through a series of letters and formed a close bond. 

She went on to bankroll a team of lawyers that would ultimately helped set Irons free in July 2020 after he served 23 years. 

The couple married nine days after his released before welcoming their first child Jonathan Hughston Irons Jr, in February 2022. 

Moore's husband, Jonathan Irons (R), was arrested for a nonfatal shooting at age 16 

Moore bankrolled a team of lawyers that would ultimately helped set Irons free in 2020

Maya Moore's WNBA career 

Moore stepped away from basketball in 2019, in large to dedicate her time to Irons' case. 

She eventually officially announced her retirement from the WNBA and the Minnesota Lynx in 2023. 

A recent inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Moore, the 2014 MVP and a six-time WNBA All-Star, helped lead the Lynx to four WNBA titles during her career, including her first season in 2011.

The first overall selection in the 2011 WNBA Draft out of UConn, Moore burst onto the scene to average 13.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in helping the Lynx win their first ever playoff series on the way to their first league championship.

Minnesota would go on to win titles in 2013, 2015 and 2017 with Moore starring. Her MVP season in 2014 saw her average career highs in points (23.9) and rebounds (8.1).

Over an eight-year career in Minnesota, Moore scored 4,984 career points to go along with 1,589 rebounds, 895 assists and 451 steals to rank in the franchise's top three in each category.

The Lynx honored the legend by retiring her No. 23 jersey during Saturday night's home game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.

The Lynx honored the legend by retiring her No. 23 jersey during Saturday night's home game

Why did Caitlin Clark wear a t-shirt honoring Maya Moore? 

Caitlin Clark faced the Lynx Saturday as Moore was honored by her former WNBA franchise and the night was just as poignant for the rookie. 

As a young girl, the Minnesota Lynx had been Clark's team and Moore had been her player. 

'She was the person for me, honestly,' Clark said. 'I remember that Lynx team better than anybody. As a young girl, obviously they were the closest WNBA team to me growing up, so it's kind of who you root for, but they were also really good, so they were easy to root for.' 

Ahead of the matchup, which the Fever ultimately lost 90-80 despite Clark's 23 points, the No. 1 overall draft pick warmed up in a Moore retirement t-shirt. 

She also revealed that she managed to hug her idol following a Lynx game she attended as a child. 

'And I just ran up to her and I gave her a hug. There's no documentation of that moment, but obviously, in my brain, that was one of the most pivotal moments probably in my entire basketball career. Obviously as a young girl, loving sports, that meant the world to me.' 

Moore admitted she didn't remember the moment but added: 'It's really, really cool to think about how one of those little girls became Caitlin Clark.'

Caitlin Clark grew up a fan of Moore and wore a t-shirt honoring her ahead of the game