Maya Moore has undergone a significant weight gain transformation as she hasn’t played the game of basketball since 2019. Additionally, the 33-year-old athlete gained a few extra pounds of weight after giving birth to a child in 2022. And yes, Moore recently announced her retirement in January 2023.
Maya April Moore (born June 11, 1989) is a former professional basketball player from the United States. Sports Illustrated named Moore the 2017 Performer of the Year, calling her the greatest winner in women’s basketball history.
Maya Moore was the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft, joining a Minnesota Lynx team that already included all-stars Seimone Augustus, Rebekkah Brunson, and Lindsay Whalen. Moore has four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017), a WNBA MVP Award (2014), a WNBA Finals MVP Award (2013), three WNBA All-Star Game MVPs (2015, 2017, and 2018), two Olympic gold medals (2012 and 2016), a WNBA Scoring Title (2014), and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award (2011).
Moore was also named one of Time‘s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. However, she took a break from the WNBA from 2019 to 2023 to work on justice reform in the United States. Moore announced her retirement from basketball on Good Morning America on January 16, 2023.
Following the announcement, Maya Moore recently shocked her fans and followers with her new appearance, where many viewers speculated that the 33-year-old athlete appeared to be a little heavier than the last time we saw her on screen. Of course, many people are curious about her weight gain journey. Well, let’s get started.
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Maya Moore’s Weight Gain: Retirement and Postpartum Are the Main Reason Behind the Former Basketball Player’s Current Appearance!
At the age of 33, WNBA champion Maya Moore (@mooremaya) announced her retirement. Four years after stepping away, she knew it was time to call it quits on her basketball career. The former Minnesota Lynx star left the league in 2019 to assist her now-husband Jonathan Irons in getting his 50-year prison sentence overturned in 2020. Soon after his release, Irons married Moore, and the couple welcomed their first child in February 2022 which might be the main cause of her current weight gain.
She announced her retirement on ABC‘s Good Morning America on . Moore had previously expressed hesitation about returning to the court due to being overweight, but she told The Associated Press that it was time to call it quits. She said,
Over the last year, it finally felt right to just close the chapter. Talk about it in a celebratory way. … I’m excited to able to give the clarity to the basketball world.
Maya Moore also admitted that her son and husband would be unable to see her play in the WNBA ever again. Moore will be eligible for the Naismith Hall of Fame next year because she stopped playing basketball four years ago, making her one of the few athletes to retire in their prime.
The 33-year-old former professional basketball player occasionally posts pictures of herself working out on her social media platform. Likely, walking and Pilates are two of the famous player’s favorite ways to stay in shape after gaining weight. She also admitted to having body image issues after the birth of her first child, Jonathan Jr. She also stated that, while social media may portray her as having a flawless body, this is not the case and that she had to work hard to get in shape. She has become an inspiration to young mothers all over the world.
Moore’s workouts include a lot of weights, cardio, running, squats, and pushups, but she also admitted that she isn’t a workout freak like her siblings and instead focuses on diet. She begins her day with celery juice, which she claims contains a lot of nutrients. Celery, a green leafy vegetable, aids in the prevention of inflammation and weight gain.
Peviviouly, just before the 2013 season, Maya Moore spent three weeks living and training with WNBA veteran Kara Lawson (@karalawson)—and not just to improve her 3-point shooting (Lawson ranks eighth all-time in the WNBA). Moore’s the-main goal was to learn how to eat healthier and maintain her weight gain issues.
Moore felt more energetic and less sore after three weeks, and she recovered faster from workouts. She noticed a significant improvement on the court as she continued her dietary changes throughout the season.
At the time Moore lost seven or eight pounds, which relieved pressure on her joints, particularly her achy knees. She was also able to move more quickly while guarding opponents. Moore went on to have a breakout season, leading the Lynx to the 2013 WNBA title. In 2014, she improved even more, earning league MVP honors.
As of now (2023), the reason behind Maya Moore’s weight gain is as clear as crystal. Obviously, not playing basketball and giving birth to a child has led her to gain a few pounds of weight. However, we do believe she still has the strength to get back in shape, after all, she is one of the greatest woman athletes to ever play the game.
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