
Source: Maya Moore / Instagram
Maya Moore walked away from her stellar WNBA career to focus her time squarely on prison reform, connecting her to the case of Jonathan Irons, a Missouri man facing 50 years in prison. After working tirelessly to free Irons, who walked free over the summer, the pair revealed Wednesday (Sept. 16) that they are now husband and wife.
Moore and Irons were all smiles during an appearance on Good Morning America, sharing the news live on air with host Robin Roberts, who said with a laugh that Irons “put a ring on it” which also had the new couple breaking out in a smile.
Moore, who hails from Jefferson City, Mo., plays small forward for the Minnesota Lynx and is a four-time WNBA champion, six-time WNBA all-star, WNBA MVP, and two-time EuroLeague Women’s champion along with countless other awards dating back to her time at the University of Connecticut.
Stepping away from her still-surging career to dive deep into prison reform, working directly on freeing Irons, now 40, from the Jefferson City correctional facility, who was serving a 50-year sentence stemming from a conviction for assault, robbery, and shooting of a St. Charles County woman when he was 16 in 1998.
“We wanted to announce today that we are super excited to continue the work that we are doing together, but doing it as a married couple,” Moore said. “We got married a couple months ago and we’re excited to just continue this new chapter of life together.
The pair say they had as close to a traditional as possible considering the pandemic’s looming presence. The pair’s romance has been in slow bloom for years, with Moore meeting with Irons via a prison ministry program when she was 18. Irons shared that he was ready to commit his life and love to Moore, but was careful in not disrupting the course of her life. He was willing to let her go to pursue a more sensible union considering his predicament. However, the feelings were indeed mutual and now it’s a true fairy tale ending.
Check out the reactions to Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons’ marriage announcement below.
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Photo: Instagram
Maya Moore Marries Jonathan Irons, Man She Worked To Get Out Of PrisonΒ was originally published on hiphopwired.com
1.
My man bagged Maya Moore.....from prison. https://t.co/5ibIKH6CXU pic.twitter.com/LFAUkkNvj6
— Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) September 16, 2020
2.
Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons, the man whose wrongful convinction she dedicated the last two years of her life to help overturn, announced on Good Morning America today that theyβve gotten married.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) September 16, 2020
With Irons now a free man, theyβve finally started their life together: pic.twitter.com/tdsVWyTNVV
3.
Jonathan Irons when he saw Maya Moore
— 700 Fill Bandit (@Rios___) September 16, 2020
pic.twitter.com/Yz6DbktYtD
4.
So Maya Moore fought to get her man outta jail and married him??
— Imani McGee-Stafford (@imanitrishawn_) September 16, 2020
THATS THE BIGGEST FLEX IVE EVER SEEN.
5.
Whoa! Maya Moore quit basketball to fight for Jonathan's freedom. This just became a movie. https://t.co/AXxsMxK4cZ
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 16, 2020
6.
Good morning fellas. If pro superstar Maya Moore can give up her career at her peak to support a man doing life in prison, then so can the women in your life. You are the prize!!! Accept nothing less. Namaste ππ½
— Slevin Kelevra (@DrunkUncTony) September 16, 2020
There’s always one.
7.
Monica when she finds out that Maya Moore successfully freed the love of her life out of jail: pic.twitter.com/G6DsisHznf
— Mikasa's House-Husband π‘ (CAVS: 13-21) (@ALEXVNDER_) September 16, 2020
8.
Robin Roberts and ESPN films working on a documentary about Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons. Also announced on @GMA. Big news day! https://t.co/SaG7wRoYv7
— Katie Barnes (@katie_barnes3) September 16, 2020
9.
Tyler perry lookin at this Maya Moore situation like pic.twitter.com/okGRShDC2g
— Big Girl Slay π (@Biggirlslay) September 16, 2020
10.
Shout out to Maya Moore. A woman that goes and gets what she wants.
— Future Of The Retro (@TraeK_) September 16, 2020
Beat Stanford and Louisville for an NCAA championship ring
Beat Atlanta, Washington and Indiana and got 4 WNBA Rings
Then beat the Justice system and got a wedding ring..
πππππππππππππππ