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SPORTS Wednesday 29 January 2020

Maya Moore at peace with decision to skip second WNBA season

By DOUG FEINBERG 50-year sentence but has figure out the next steps Moore said that there is a for the U.S. national team's
AP Basketball Writer asked a judge to reopen are," Moore said. "We had set of fingerprints that didn't exhibition game against
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — his case. a really powerful hearing belong to Irons and that it UConn. The Huskies were
Minnesota Lynx star Maya could be a key piece of honoring Moore's teams
Moore sees missing a sec- evidence. that won national champi-
ond consecutive WNBA "We are in process of iden- onships in 2009 and 2010.
season as an extension tifying whose fingerprints "It's going to be a mix of
of her decision to skip last were found at the crime emotions and I want to be
year. scene and who those be- appreciative and soak it
The 30-year-old told The As- long to," she said. "The origi- all in," Moore said of com-
sociated Press in a phone nal trial, they said they be- ing to the game. "It will be
interview Monday that her longed to him." a surreal feeling watching
work pushing criminal jus- Moore said the next hear- the national team."
tice reform wasn't done ing date is March 9. Moore received a warm
yet. While Moore is sitting out for ovation from the crowd
"I think when I made my a second straight season when she was introduced
announcement last Febru- and a chance to play in before the game.
ary in 'The Players' Tribune' a third Olympics, she con- "I think it was a bigger deal
that the heartbeats of firmed that she isn't ready for Maya. This is someone
what I believed in were still to retire. who hadn't been around
true," Moore said. "I'm still "Everyone thinks about re- UConn or in "public"," U.S.
very committed to Jona- tirement at some point. I coach Cheryl Reeve said.
than's case and will see it Minnesota Lynx and former Connecticut player Maya Moore, don't think right now is the "Think of all the worlds that
through." left, puts her arm around former Connecticut teammate and New right time to do that," she just merged that Maya's
Moore has spent most of York Liberty player Tina Charles during a ceremony honoring said. "So I tried to explain been a part of. There was
the last year trying to help their championship team before an exhibition basketball game it the best way I am on this a lot going on for Maya.
a family friend overturn a between Connecticut and the United States, Monday, Jan. 27, journey. I wanted to make Tremendous to see her and
conviction. Jonathan Irons 2020, in Hartford, Conn. Associated Press it clear I wouldn't play in the a lot of WNBA players. For
has been incarcerated 2020 season and the Olym- Maya I told her I was really
since 1997, convicted in pics, but don't think it's the glad that she participated
the nonfatal shooting of "There was a hearing today back on Oct. 9 when we right time to put retirement in this very important day in
a homeowner during a where the lawyers came were able to disclose all out there." honoring these teams that
burglary. He is serving a together with the judge to the evidence." Moore was in Connecticut she was a big part of."q