The AP Women's College Basketball Poll turns 50 next year, and the publication began celebrating its rankings run a few months early by asking 13 former players and AP sportswriters to fill an All-Time team roster with the NCAA's best.
First Team honors went to USC legend Cheryl Miller, UConn greats Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi, all-time leading NCAA scorer and Iowa alum Caitlin Clark, and position-defining Tennessee forward Candace Parker.
Standout Huskies Sue Bird and Maya Moore also snagged AP All-Time nods, earning Second Team spots alongside Virginia star guard Dawn Staley, Tennessee forward and three-time national champion Chamique Holdsclaw, and three-time AIAW champion and MVP Lusia Harris from Delta State.
Even the AP list's reserves are full of legends, with basketball pioneers like Kansas star Lynette Woodard and UCLA's Ann Meyers Drysdale joining Lisa Leslie (USC) and Sheryl Swoopes (Texas Tech) as well as current WNBA superstars A'ja Wilson (South Carolina) and Brittney Griner (Baylor) on the All-Time bench.
"Being named an AP All-American is one of the most storied honors in college sports," Clark said in response to her AP All-Time First Team nod. "It's fun to think about what it would have been like if we all played together."
"What an accomplishment and what an honor," said fellow First Team honoree Taurasi. "There's so many great women who paved the way."
Three retired WNBA icons received their flowers over the weekend, as Minnesota Lynx legends Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore and Seattle Storm great Sue Bird took their places in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday — making the 2025 WNBA class arguably the most dominant in HOF history.
"Now that I'm in the Hall, I believe I have become Auntie Maya," Moore said in her enshrinement speech. "I want to challenge you up-and-comers to learn to love and seek out joy and connection as your biggest motivator."
With 11 Olympic gold medals — more than any other HOF group — and 10 league championships between them, plus countless individual honors, Fowles, Bird, and Moore comprise the strongest women's basketball Hall of Fame class in history.
Even more, this is the first year that the Naismith has added a full trio of WNBA players to its hallowed halls — a testament to the unmatched careers of Bird, Moore, and Fowles.
"Put us on a 3×3 team, you'd have some problems — we'd be pretty good," Bird joked. "It is pretty special to go in with people who aren't just amazing players, having impact on and off the court, but these are players that I got to experience life with."
"I think that would be fair to say that they would have the title of best class ever," Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced this year’s inductees on Saturday, with WNBA legends Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and Maya Moore headlining a star-studded Class of 2025.
The Hall of Fame mandates a two-year post-retirement waiting period for eligibility, with both Bird and Fowles qualifying for the shortlist following their 2022 retirements from the WNBA.
Moore officially retired from the WNBA in early 2023, despite stepping away from professional basketball in 2018.
2025 Hall of Fame class highlights WNBA accolades
This year's class is the first to ever feature three WNBA players, proving the iconic trio's monumental contributions to the sport.
All three players won multiple Olympic gold medals with Team USA in addition to competing in at least three NCAA Final Fours, with UConn alums Bird and Moore counting two national championships among their accolades.
Moore is a four-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx, earning her last two titles with Fowles as her teammate, while Bird won four WNBA titles with the Seattle Storm.
Both Moore and Fowles have picked up WNBA MVP awards, while Bird retired as the league’s career assists leader.
How to attend the Hall of Fame's 2025 Enshrinement Weekend
The Naismith Hall of Fame’s 2025 Enshrinement Weekend tips off on September 5th, with both weekend packages and single event tickets currently available for purchase online.
Several women’s basketball greats earned nominations to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, with Maya Moore, Sue Bird, and Sylvia Fowles among the Class of 2025’s 17 finalists for first-ballot induction.
After leading UConn to back-to-back undefeated NCAA seasons en route to the 2009 and 2010 national titles, Moore won four WNBA championships across seven seasons with the Minnesota Lynx. The 2014 WNBA MVP and six-time league All-Star also earned a pair of Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 before exiting the game to pursue criminal justice reform in 2018.
Fellow Husky alum Bird also won two NCAA titles at UConn before picking up five Olympic gold medals with Team USA and four WNBA championships in her 21-season career with the Seattle Storm. Despite retiring in 2022, Bird remains the WNBA's career assists leader with 3,234 dimes, and her 13 All-Star nods still sets the league record.
Before joining Moore in leading the Lynx to WNBA championships in 2015 and 2017 — and earning Finals MVP awards during both runs — Fowles helped her alma mater LSU to four straight Final Four appearances. Her 14-year pro career included four Olympic golds, eight All-Star nods, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, plus the 2017 WNBA MVP trophy. When Fowles exited the sport in 2022, she did so as the WNBA's career rebounds leader, with a total of 4,006 boards.
Also on the 2025 Naismith ballot is Stanford standout and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Jennifer Azzi, who spent five years in the WNBA before retiring from play in 2004. Azzi now serves as the chief business development officer for the Las Vegas Aces.
Naismith committee to decide Hall of Fame class
A 24-member Honors Committee will assess all 17 finalists. Those who garner at least 18 committee votes will earn admittance into the Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2025 will be announced in during the NCAA men’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, April 5th, with an official enshrinement ceremony to follow at a later date.
Who are the top scorers in WNBA playoff history? Just Women’s Sports breaks down the top 10 all-time points leaders.
While Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury did not make the 2023 playoffs, the 41-year-old guard still holds the top spot on the leaderboard by more than 300 points over the next closest competitor.
Just one player – Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner – moved up the leaderboard during the 2023 postseason.
Bonner jumped to fourth place and sits 62 points back of Tamika Catchings in third. (She also features in the top 10 in postseason history in rebounds, blocks and steals.)
Just Women’s Sports presents the top 10 players in WNBA playoff history in rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
Candace Parker could make her case as the league’s greatest postseason player based on these leaderboards. She sits in the top five in all four of these categories – and in career playoff points. But the 37-year-old has not appeared (yet) in the 2023 postseason for the Las Vegas Aces as she deals with a foot injury.
Tamika Catchings, who starred for the Indiana Fever from 2002-2016, also appears in every category. While she doesn’t rank in the top five in all of them, she does have the most steals in WNBA playoff history with 152.
Connecticut Sun forward DeWanna Bonner ranks in the top 10 in rebounds, blocks and steals, and she moved up the leaderboards in the 2023 playoffs.
WNBA legend Maya Moore has retired from professional basketball. She leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
The Minnesota Lynx star stepped away from the sport after the 2018 season to to help now-husband Jonathan Irons fight to overturn his 50-year prison sentence. Before she dedicated herself to criminal justice reform, she put together arguably one of the greatest careers in WNBA history.
Just Women’s Sports takes a look at that career, by the numbers.
1
The UConn forward was drafted No. 1 overall by Minnesota in 2011. She went on to earn the Rookie of the Year award, averaging 13.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game in her debut season.
Moore spent her entire eight-year career with the Lynx, and she stands as Minnesota’s leader in points per game, 3-pointers made (530) and steals (449).
2
Moore won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA, at the 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She also won two NCAA titles with UConn, in 2009 and 2010, and two Naismith Player of the Year awards, in 2009 and 2011.
She’s incomparable.
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) January 16, 2023
Thank you, Maya 💙 pic.twitter.com/DFB7igq6x9
4
Before Moore stepped away from the court at age 29, she helped lead the Lynx to four WNBA championships — in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. She was named Finals MVP in 2013.
6
A six-time WNBA All-Star, Moore was named All-Star Game MVP three times during her eight-year career.
Forever a part of Lynx history. 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/QIvm82hJ3T
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) January 16, 2023
18.4
In the WNBA, Moore averaged 18.4 points per game, as well as 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals. She was named WNBA MVP in 2014 after averaging 23.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game; she led the league in scoring that season.
Her mark of 18.4 points per game ranks eighth all-time, behind retired stars Cynthia Cooper (21.0) and Lauren Jackson (18.9) and active players Breanna Stewart (20.3), Elena Delle Donne (19.8), Arike Ogunbowale (19.8), Diana Taurasi (19.3), A’ja Wilson (19.1), Angel McCoughtry (18.6).
90
In her four years at UConn, Moore and the Huskies went on a 90-game winning streak. That stood as the longest in NCAA history until the school went on a 111-game run a few years later. Throughout her college career, the team’s record was an astounding 150-4.
Maya Moore is officially retiring from professional basketball.
The Minnesota Lynx legend announced her decision Monday on “Good Morning America.” She stepped away from the WNBA in 2019 to help now-husband Jonathan Irons fight for his release from prison, helping to get his 50-year sentence overturned in 2020.
The two welcomed their first child, Jonathan Jr., in July.
“It’s time to put a close to the pro basketball life,” Moore said. “I walked away four seasons ago, but I wanted to officially retire. This is such a sweet time for us in our family. And the work that we’ve done, I want to continue that in this next chapter. I want to continue to be present at home for my community, my family. … So that’s what I’m moving into. Hanging it up.”
LIVE ON @GMA: WNBA star @MooreMaya announces her retirement from pro basketball: “I want to continue to be present at home, for our community, and also doing work with our nonprofit. That's what I'm moving into.”@RobinRobertshttps://t.co/1NCTH7TScs pic.twitter.com/wEx7PZCvWr
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 16, 2023
Moore won four WNBA championships in her eight seasons with the Lynx, as well as two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and two NCAA titles while at UConn. A two-time AP Player of the Year, she was drafted No. 1 overall by Minnesota in 2011 and averaged 18.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game during her career.
She won Rookie of the Year in 2011 as well as league MVP in 2014.
“I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that the WNBA, the Minnesota Lynx and basketball have given me in my lifetime,” Moore said in a release from the Lynx. “It was a dream come true for me to play basketball at the highest level and help build the foundation for women’s basketball.”
When she stepped away after the 2018 season, she did so as Minnesota’s franchise leader in scoring average, 3-point field goals made (530) and steals (449). She also ranked second in total points scored (4,984), field goals made (1,782), assists (896) and blocks (176).
“Maya Moore has forever left a mark on the state of Minnesota, the Minnesota Lynx franchise and the hearts of Lynx fans everywhere,” Lynx owner Glen Taylor said. “Maya’s accolades are numerous; her leadership and talent both fearless and inspirational set the foundation for the most exciting and historic championship run in the league from 2011-2017.
“While today culminates Maya’s basketball career, there is no doubt she will continue to impact the game we all love. We wish Maya all the best and will root for her always.”
Maya Moore and husband Jonathan Irons welcomed their first child in February, they announced Tuesday on “Good Morning America.”
Moore and Irons named their son Jonathan Hughston Irons Jr. On Instagram, Moore called his birth “one of the proudest days of my life!”
Moore was a four-time WNBA champion with the Minnesota Lynx before stepping away from the game to focus on social justice issues.
She met Irons in 2007 while he was wrongfully imprisoned for burglary and assault, and Moore helped push for his freedom. A judge overturned Irons’ conviction in 2020, and he proposed to Moore the night he was released.
The couple’s story was documented in an ESPN 30 for 30 film titled “Breakaway,” was released last July. Moore later was awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2021 ESPYs.
In her ESPYs speech, Moore addressed the strength it took for her to step away from basketball.
“My courage has not been as much in me not playing but in the emotional and mental and spiritual outpouring into love and fighting against injustice,” she said. “Power is not meant to be gripped with a clenched fist or to be hoarded, but power is meant to be handled generously so we can thoughtfully empower one another to thrive in our communities for love’s sake.”
Reggie Love takes NETLIFE host Dawn Staley behind the scenes of his time in politics, including when he served as an aide to President Barack Obama.
On the latest episode of the podcast, Love recalls his fondest memory in the White House, when President Obama invited Love’s parents to the Oval Office on the first day of his presidency.
“Your parents will not be here forever. You should never miss the opportunity to appreciate them and to show them gratitude and love,” Love remembers President Obama telling him then.
Another of Love’s favorite moments from the White House was President Obama’s 50th birthday celebration in 2011. It was never a secret that the 44th President of the United States enjoyed a competitive game of basketball, and that passion was on full display during his landmark birthday festivities.
The president’s staff organized a pick-up basketball game with players who supported his campaign, including Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul and other top-tier NBA talent. Wounded Warriors from the Walter Reed Medical Center were also invited to the White House for the star-studded event.
With all the impressive talent in the room, Love was taken by one player’s skills in particular: WNBA icon Maya Moore.
“She was by far better than everybody,” Love says of Moore, who stepped away from the game in 2018 to focus full-time on criminal justice reform and freeing Jonathan Irons, her now husband, from prison.
For more on Love’s time in the White House, listen to the latest episode of NETLIFE.