Show notes:
Intro (00:00 - 00:41)
Preview of the second part of our player spotlight on the phenomenal Maya Moore Irons (00:42 -01:23)
Maya's background coming from a devout Christian home and her support system around her; her aspirations as a person; other tidbits and likes that she has (01:24 - 05:29)
Her godparents investing themselves in a young man named Jonathan Irons who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated; Maya meeting Jonathan for the first time; their developing friendship and admiration for each other (03:09 - 07:17)
The spark that lit the flame for her advocacy towards social change: the entire Minnesota Lynx team standing in solidarity after the killings of Philandro Castile and Alton Sterling; also joining with the UNICEF Kid Power Foundation initiative; her going on a Christian missions trip to Haiti (07:18 - 08:45)
Maya sitting out the 2019 and 2020 season in the WNBA with a focus on family and her advocacy for Jonathan's case as well as bringing awareness to the need for prosecutorial reform in the justice system through her newly formed non-profit organization Win With Justice, winwithjustice.org; advocacy for the End It Movement which focuses on modern slavery in the global world (08:46 - 10:16)
Jonathan's case getting overturned thanks to the attorneys who put forth evidence that exonerates him of the charges leveled against him; his eventual release from the Jefferson City prison; Maya and Jonathan getting married and the arrival of their child less than two years later (10:17 - 12:41)
The debut of ESPN 30-for-30 documentary called Breakaway which details Maya and Jonathan's story; the announcement of the release of their memoir Love and Justice: a Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts as well as Maya officially retiring from playing basketball during a Good Morning America interview with Robin Roberts (12:42 - 14:14)
Her accolades from her playing days with the AAU teams, Collins Hill HS, University of Connecticut, Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA as well as her exploits overseas including her time with the US national teams; her acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Coward Award; her upcoming eligibility for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 (14:14 - 24:00)
Quotes from her own words (24:01 - 32:49)
What others had to say about Maya including her former coaches Geno Auriemma and Cheryl Reeve as well as Minnesota Lynx owner Glen Taylor, Michael Jordan, Professor Harry Edwards and others (32:50 - 45:43)
Call to action (45:44 - 47:02)
