"It's Natural To Wrestle With Insecurities": Maya Moore Sends Powerful Message To Next Generation During Her 2025 Hall Of Fame Induction

Throughout her career, Maya Moore has inspired millions of hoops fans around the world with her exemplary performance on the hardcourt. During her induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Moore once again sent a powerful message, this time addressing the next generation of athletes.

After being welcomed to the Hall of Fame by her legendary college coach Geno Auriemma, Moore delivered a speech that underscored the theme of self-doubt being overcome by a powerful sense of motivation.

"I want y'all in the next generation to realize that it's natural to wrestle with insecurities and fears as you navigate your sports journey," Moore said. "You have to figure out what motivates you every day when you get out of bed."

Moore, whose social justice advocacies gained as much prominence as her decorated basketball career, acknowledged the pressure on today's athletes to seize the spotlight and gain financial stability. Even so, the three-time WNBA MVP urged young players to seek a different type of fulfillment.

"I want to challenge you up-and-comers to love and seek out joy and connection as your biggest motivator," she said. "All of these teams that you see when they're getting interviewed in the NBA Finals, WNBA, and college, they're always talking about each other and the joy that they have of being together."

The concept of a bona fide team player was demonstrated by Moore at every stage of her career. From her high school days in Georgia to her storied UConn run, all the way to her championship squads with the Minnesota Lynx, Moore established herself as a driving force for success to be enjoyed by everyone on her team.

As successful as she became, Moore put an end to her basketball career in 2019 to focus on helping Jonathan Irons, a man who had spent two decades in prison after being convicted of burglary and assault. Moore believed that Irons was wrongfully imprisoned, and with her help, Irons was released in 2020.

Moore and Irons, who had met each other after her senior year in high school, went on to get married and have a son. Fittingly, the six-time WNBA All-Star encouraged young athletes to appreciate the people in their surroundings.

"Don't miss out on learning from someone more experienced than you," she added. "The joy of having people around you that believe in you, and you believe in them, seek that culture out."