SUMMARY
- Maya Moore is mostly known for her work in the WNBA between 2011 and 2018.
- The 4x WNBA Champion fought for Jonathan Irons' release while playing basketball.
Maya Moore had a remarkable journey in the sport of basketball between 2011 and 2018. It wasn’t only during her professional run that the 34-year-old excelled, but she was one of the most accomplished female basketball athletes at the college level. During her time in the WNBA, she competed alongside the Minnesota Lynx. There she established herself as a two-way spectacle.
She eventually went on to win several accolades. Moore was a 4x WNBA Champion, Finals MVP, League MVP, 6x WNBA All-Star, and a 3x All-Star Game MVP. The 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year also managed to lead the league in steals and scoring. However, Moore even achieved international recognition while competing overseas in China and Russia. She is the proud owner of five international gold medals as well.
While Maya Moore showed a lot of excellence on the floor, it was how she fought for her husband’s justice away from the court that proved her worth as a human being. Jonathan Irons truly suffered the worst kind of injustice before she stood firm in bringing him out of solitary confinement which they referred to as a “hole” in their memoir.
Jonathan Irons was imprisoned over a nonfatal shooting in 1996
Nearly a decade before Irons had even met Maya Moore, he was jailed for a nonfatal shooting in 1996. It was quite unfortunate as there was a lack of physical evidence to prove he was guilty. However, in 1998, an all-white jury sentenced him to a grueling 50-year sentence. At this point, Jonathan believed that his life was over and he didn’t have much to live for.
According to Time, Irons could not bear the struggle. He said, “The air reeked of body odor and urine and fecal matter. I couldn’t take the pain anymore. They had broken me. Now, maybe they were going to bury me too.” Irons was holding onto life by a thread. The article stated that he tore a worn sheet and tied a noose around his neck. But it seemed as if his relationship with Maya Moore had given hope to continue until justice was served.
Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons met at a correctional center in 2007
Before experiencing his worst days in prison, Jonathan Irons met Maya Moore in 2007. They first laid eyes on each other at Jefferson City Correctional Center in Missouri. Moore got to know about Irons through her godparents, who had taken a deep interest in his case at the time. Moore was slowly blossoming into her peak in college at the University of Connecticut.
In their co-written memoir called Love and Justice, Irons claimed that their relationship remained fairly platonic for the first six years of knowing each other. But it was one time in 2013 that Maya Moore slipped out a joke that sparked a romance between the two. Irons claimed he was initially confused since they maintained a sibling-like bond. Eventually, the two grow a romantic connection that locked their hearts forever.
Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons got married in July 2020
Maya Moore played a major part in Jonathan Irons’ release from prison. Irons claimed that the process of moving into regular life was also challenging. “It was extremely hard… I had to break and pause and schedule a session with my counselor,” he said. Irons claimed that while writing the memoir, he would often find himself in a loop, thinking he was back in prison. However, looking at Maya standing beside him would help him come back to the realization that he’s free.
In July 2020, Irons was released from prison and nine days later, they both got married. While the Lynx star fought for her partner, she stepped away from basketball. She felt that fighting for justice was what mattered more. While they were dating, she often spoke about Irons’ case but never mentioned their secret relationship. She wanted the world to focus more on his story rather than their relationship.
Upon his release, the former UMMC Ekaterinburg player claimed that basketball was secondary. She tried her best to be there for him. “I needed to make sure I’m well rested and in a good rhythm so that I can be my best self for him.” She beautifully described it in basketball terminology. She said it was almost like preparing to take on challenges with her teammates.
False imprisonment kept Jonathan Irons from living a life he wanted
Jonathan Irons wrote about the things he missed out on in life due to false imprisonment. He said, “Sometimes I’ll be having the greatest time, then I just think about all I lost. Not being able to spend time with my grandmother, [and] old relationships. My friends from growing up, they’ve all got kids who are graduating from high school. I missed out on all of that, man.”
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He claimed that though he has healed significantly since being released, he gets hurt by the thoughts of missing out on so much, his prime years in life. Now, Iron runs a successful dog-training business. He also spends a lot of time with his family and helps Maya Moore run her nonprofit organization established for prosecutorial reform. Moore and Irons have a son, Jonathan Hughston Irons Jr., who was born in February 2022.
As far as Maya Moore’s playing days, they have officially ended. In 2023, Moore stated that she was retiring from playing basketball professionally. She currently focuses on helping society fight injustice.
What did Maya Moore’s husband do?
Maya Moore’s husband, Jonathan Irons was arrested for a nonfatal shooting in 1996. He was later convicted in 1998 and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
Is Maya Moore still married?
Yes, Maya Moore is still married to Jonathan Irons. They got married in July 2020, nine days after Irons was released from prison.
Who is Maya basketball husband?
Maya Moore is married to Jonathan Irons. She stepped away from basketball to fight for his innocence after being linked to a nonfatal shooting in 1996.
What is Maya Moore doing nowadays?
Maya Moore currently runs a nonprofit organization called Win with Justice. The firm mainly focuses on prosecuting reforms.