Lynx legends Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles headed to Basketball Hall of Fame

Minnesota Lynx legends Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles have been elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as members of the class of 2025.

Also going into the Hall this year as players are Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Sue Bird. Billy Donovan (coach), Mickey Arison (owner), Danny Crawford (referee), and the 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team are also part of the 2025 class.

Moore and Fowles join Seimone Augustus (2024), Lindsay Whalen (2022), Katie Smith (2018), and Teresa Edwards (2011) as former Lynx players in the Basketball Hall of Fame. They're all additionally in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, which is a separate entity.

Moore has a strong case as the greatest player in Lynx history and one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time. After going 150-4 and winning two national championships and two player of the year awards at UConn, she was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft. 

With the Lynx, Moore was a seven-time All-WNBA selection (including five first-team nods) in eight seasons. She was the 2011 Rookie of the Year and the 2014 MVP. Most importantly, she helped lead the Lynx to four WNBA titles between 2011 and 2017, winning Finals MVP in 2013. Moore stepped away from basketball in 2019 to advocate for the release from prison of Jonathan Irons, who she went on to marry. She officially announced her retirement in 2023.

Fowles played for the Lynx from 2015 to 2022 after spending the first seven seasons of her career with the Chicago Sky. She was instrumental in Minnesota's championships in 2015 and 2017, winning Finals MVP both times. In her 15-year career, Fowles was a four-time Defensive Player of the Year (twice with the Lynx), eight-time All-WNBA selection, and the 2017 MVP. She's second on the league's career rebounding leaderboard after being passed by Tina Charles last season.

The induction ceremony will take place on Sep. 6 in Springfield, Mass.