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Two of the most accomplished women's basketball players of all time are Hall of Fame bound, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Sue Bird and Maya Moore have been elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2025.
Storm legend Sue Bird is more than deserving of the honor. After being selected by the Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird quickly established herself as one of the league's best players. She made the All-Star team, was named to the first-team All-WNBA team and finished fifth in MVP voting as a rookie.
She then maintained that high level of play over her entire 21-year WNBA career — all of which came with the Storm. Bird made 13 All-Star teams, was named to the All-WNBA team eight times and led the Storm to four championships during her career. Bird averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 assists over 580 games in the WNBA.
Bird's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame should come as no surprise. Just four years into her career, Bird was named to the WNBA's All-Decade team in 2006. That was far from her only honor.
In 2011, the WNBA held its own top-15 players vote in celebration of the league's 15th year of existence. Fans, media, coaches and players were allowed to vote on the best players in league history, with the results being revealed at the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Bird, who was 10 years into her career at the time, was one of the 15 players named to the Top-15 team. Five years later, Bird made the league's Top 20@20 team. She was also part of the W25 team — the top-25 players in the league's 25 years of existence — in 2021.
Bird also starred as a key member of Team USA, winning Olympic gold medals five times. Bird won her first gold during the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her final gold with Team USA came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Away from the court, Bird became one of sport's biggest power couples after announcing her relationship with soccer star Megan Rapinoe. The pair announced their engagement in 2020. There hasn't been a wedding ceremony just yet, but Rapinoe said in 2024 "it's gonna happen eventually."
After retiring in 2022, Bird joined the ownership group of NWSL team NJ/NY Gotham FC. Just over a year after her retirement from the WNBA, the Storm retired Bird's No. 10.
Maya Moore, the former Minnesota Lynx forward, whose stellar career was cut short by a passionate focus on social justice, is being honored as part of the Hall's Class of 2025.
Moore's basketball career began with four years at UConn, where she was a two-time NCAA champion (2009, 2010) and was twice named as Naismith Player of the Year (2009, 2011).
From there she moved on to a relatively short but very memorable career in the WNBA. In just eight seasons, Moore led the Lynx to four WNBA Championships. She earned six All-Star nods; the two years where she was not named an All-Star were Olympic years where the WNBA did not award All-Star honors. Moore was named Rookie of the Year in 2011, and WNBA MVP in 2014.
In 2019, Moore made the stunning decision to take the year off from basketball, saying in a Players Tribune article that she wanted to focus on her family and "ministry dreams." In 2020, Moore continued her off-court endeavor to overturn the wrongful conviction of Jeremy Irons, who she later married. Moore and Irons had their first child in 2022, two years after Irons' release.
Moore officially retired from the sport in 2023, leaving behind a legacy of humanity beyond the court.
"You just realize what a ridiculous gift it is to be able to do what I was able to do," Moore said at the time. "It was just very humbling to be around so many great people and athletes and fans, people who love the game. That’s just so unique."
Moore’s jersey was retired by Minnesota in an emotional ceremony in August.
Now, she will be able to add "first-ballot Hall of Famer" to her impressive list of accolades. Moore will be announced at a ceremony during the March Madness Final Four on April 5 along with the rest of the Class of 2025. Other notable names in the Hall of Fame Class include Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and more.
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Storm legend gets in the Hall
Storm legend Sue Bird is more than deserving of the honor. After being selected by the Storm with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird quickly established herself as one of the league's best players. She made the All-Star team, was named to the first-team All-WNBA team and finished fifth in MVP voting as a rookie.
She then maintained that high level of play over her entire 21-year WNBA career — all of which came with the Storm. Bird made 13 All-Star teams, was named to the All-WNBA team eight times and led the Storm to four championships during her career. Bird averaged 11.7 points and 5.6 assists over 580 games in the WNBA.
Bird's induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame should come as no surprise. Just four years into her career, Bird was named to the WNBA's All-Decade team in 2006. That was far from her only honor.
In 2011, the WNBA held its own top-15 players vote in celebration of the league's 15th year of existence. Fans, media, coaches and players were allowed to vote on the best players in league history, with the results being revealed at the 2011 WNBA All-Star Game. Bird, who was 10 years into her career at the time, was one of the 15 players named to the Top-15 team. Five years later, Bird made the league's Top 20@20 team. She was also part of the W25 team — the top-25 players in the league's 25 years of existence — in 2021.
Bird also starred as a key member of Team USA, winning Olympic gold medals five times. Bird won her first gold during the 2004 Athens Olympics. Her final gold with Team USA came at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Away from the court, Bird became one of sport's biggest power couples after announcing her relationship with soccer star Megan Rapinoe. The pair announced their engagement in 2020. There hasn't been a wedding ceremony just yet, but Rapinoe said in 2024 "it's gonna happen eventually."
After retiring in 2022, Bird joined the ownership group of NWSL team NJ/NY Gotham FC. Just over a year after her retirement from the WNBA, the Storm retired Bird's No. 10.
Lynx star Moore honored
Maya Moore, the former Minnesota Lynx forward, whose stellar career was cut short by a passionate focus on social justice, is being honored as part of the Hall's Class of 2025.
Moore's basketball career began with four years at UConn, where she was a two-time NCAA champion (2009, 2010) and was twice named as Naismith Player of the Year (2009, 2011).
From there she moved on to a relatively short but very memorable career in the WNBA. In just eight seasons, Moore led the Lynx to four WNBA Championships. She earned six All-Star nods; the two years where she was not named an All-Star were Olympic years where the WNBA did not award All-Star honors. Moore was named Rookie of the Year in 2011, and WNBA MVP in 2014.
In 2019, Moore made the stunning decision to take the year off from basketball, saying in a Players Tribune article that she wanted to focus on her family and "ministry dreams." In 2020, Moore continued her off-court endeavor to overturn the wrongful conviction of Jeremy Irons, who she later married. Moore and Irons had their first child in 2022, two years after Irons' release.
Moore officially retired from the sport in 2023, leaving behind a legacy of humanity beyond the court.
"You just realize what a ridiculous gift it is to be able to do what I was able to do," Moore said at the time. "It was just very humbling to be around so many great people and athletes and fans, people who love the game. That’s just so unique."
Moore’s jersey was retired by Minnesota in an emotional ceremony in August.
Now, she will be able to add "first-ballot Hall of Famer" to her impressive list of accolades. Moore will be announced at a ceremony during the March Madness Final Four on April 5 along with the rest of the Class of 2025. Other notable names in the Hall of Fame Class include Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and more.
Continue reading...
