Within sports circles, Maya Moore is recognized as a winner within women’s basketball circles – particularly at the college and WNBA levels. While she has won national championships with UConn and four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, on Monday Mar. 9, she may have scored a victory that means as much to her as any of those athletic triumphs.
Cole County judge Dan Green ordered that the convictions of Jonathan Irons, who was convicted after a burglary and shooting in the St. Louis area, be vacated.
According to the Jefferson City News-Tribune, Moore made contact with Irons from state prison after a court hearing. The ruling states Irons could be discharged unless St. Charles County decides to retry Irons within 30 days of Green’s order.
Missouri’s Attorney General’s Office, according to the News-Tribune could decide to appeal the case in Kansas City at Missouri’s Western District Court of Appeals.
It doesn’t feel real. It’s sad that it has taken this long for us to get to this point and he’s still not home yet. We’re happy, though, that the truth is out there.
–Maya Moore (Jefferson City News-Tribune)
Moore sat out last year’s WNBA season and will do so again in 2020 as she continues her fight to get Irons released.
This is HUGE. Maya Moore postponed her WNBA career to help Jonathan get his freedom. If this young man is freed, what an incredible story.
Did a pod w/ Maya last summer, where she explained why postponing her career for Jonathan was worth it —> https://t.co/OnKLIALYMk https://t.co/vIKjUznEWi
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 9, 2020
Blessings! Maya Moore brought attention to Irons’ case and supported his team as they introduced new evidence back in the fall.
When Maya returned to UConn in January, she felt there were positive results from that hearing. https://t.co/OEx9bcjvj6
— Erica L. Ayala (@elindsay08) March 9, 2020
Give Maya Moore every last rose. She deserves them all.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) March 9, 2020
As much as I love Maya Moore and her efforts I’m still furious at the system. There’s no way one of the greatest athletes of our generation should be sitting out because the system continues to fail our people. It’s consistently been sisters in the WNBA fighting for change.
1/2— Dawn Staley’s Ponytail (@WeGotGame2) March 9, 2020
Congratulations to Mr. Irons, as well as to Maya Moore, whose advocacy helped shine a light on this injustice. https://t.co/9zOaaLKwsO
— Myles (@MylesEhrlich) March 9, 2020
“It’s absolutely breathtaking. It really is. Being the change you want to see in the world in the pursuit of justice. Thank you, Maya Moore.”
That’s how @TonyReali closed out @AroundtheHorn today. Right on.
— Kurtis (@fromkurtis) March 9, 2020
