Caitlin Clark Sees Maya Moore's Jersey Retirement as 'Full Circle' Moment
The Minnesota Lynx will be retiring the No. 24 jersey of WNBA legend Maya Moore during their home game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday.
Although Moore's WNBA tenure was limited to eight years, the former UConn Husky still managed to win four WNBA Championships with the Lynx, secure 2014 WNBA MVP honors, earn three WNBA Finals MVPs, accrue six WNBA All-Star game appearances, and be a five-time All-WNBA First Team selection.
Moore was also Fever rookie sensation Caitlin Clark's favorite player growing up, making Clark being in the building for Moore's jersey retirement even more surreal.
Clark explained how special this coincidence was for her when speaking with media on August 20.
"Obviously, for me as a little kid, it's a full circle moment for myself," Clark said of witnessing Moore's jersey retirement, per Chloe Peterson. "I'm getting to live out my dream of playing in the WNBA, and being in the arena when they're retiring her jersey... someone that's done so much for this league, done so much for society and the world, she's a great individual and great person.
"Getting to meet with her at the end of my college season was really cool too, and having her at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for a game, and now getting to... be there for her night will be really special,' Clark continued.
The Fever’s next game is at Minnesota, when the Lynx will be retiring 4x WNBA champion Maya Moore’s jersey.
— Chloe Peterson (@chloepeterson67) August 20, 2024
Moore was one of Clark’s idols growing up, and being there for that ceremony will be a “full circle moment:” pic.twitter.com/ODOdv8Ai7Q
Clark is alluding to Moore surprising her by appearing at an Iowa game to witness Clark break the NCAA scoring record on March 3.
Clark being visibly starstruck, saying, "I feel like I'm fan girling so hard," and being unable to contain multiple screams of excitement when Moore approached her shows how much she adores the WNBA icon.
It's 9:30 a.m., but the stars are out in Iowa City. @MooreMaya x @CaitlinClark22 #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/0tc7xzLeTm
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 3, 2024
Moore and Clark have already received comparisons from many, due to their generational talent on the court and ability to impact fans off the court.
While that may be true, the little girl in Clark will likely be fan girling once again during Moore's special moment on Saturday.
GRANT YOUNG
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.