At long last, 2020 finally gave us a feel-good story.
Everyone, both inside and outside of the WNBA ecosystem we are part of knew the story of how Jonathan Irons was wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit – and was sentenced to 50 years in prison because of it.
Everyone, both inside and outside of the WNBA ecosystem, also knew that Maya Moore, after winning four championships with the Minnesota Lynx, and being a centerpiece of the Lynx’s 2010’s dynasty, had put her career on hold for two years to fight for his freedom.
That victory was achieved after a Missouri judge overturned Irons’ conviction following a burglary and shooting in the St. Louis area. An appeal by Missouri’s attorney general was filed, but a county prosecutor decided not to have the case retried, leading to Irons’ release.
We had all thought the story had reached an already pleasing conclusion with Moore being instrumental in Irons’ release. Then …
WNBA star Maya Moore reveals she has married Jonathan Irons, the man she helped free from wrongful conviction. Congratulations to the happy couple! https://t.co/XQgDH7hJAY pic.twitter.com/oattxmhhzO
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 16, 2020
Wedding bells. Wedding. Bells.
And … oh yeah, Maya Moore has seven rings now.
So Maya Moore fought to get her man outta jail and married him??
THATS THE BIGGEST FLEX IVE EVER SEEN.
— Imani McGee-Stafford (@imanitrishawn_) September 16, 2020
We’re excited to just continue this new chapter of life together.
–Maya Moore (ABC’s Good Morning America)
The newlyweds spoke with Robin Roberts on ABC’s Good Morning America about the news. In addition to sharing that they have tied the knot, they also announced an initiative to get out the vote in this year’s election and that there is an upcoming documentary in the works about Moore’s career and how it has led her to this point.
My godparents and my great uncle introduced me to him and his story and his case, being wrongfully convicted. He had been in prison over a decade at that point. And so I was just interested in learning, got to know him and over the last 13 years, we have just developed a friendship and just entered into this huge battle to get him home. And … just over time it was pretty clear what the Lord was doing in our hearts and now we’re sitting here today, starting a whole new chapter together.
–Maya Moore (ABC’s Good Morning America)
She said she first met Irons when she was 18 and about to play college basketball at UConn. Irons admitted that they had strong feelings for each other, but did not want his previous status as an incarcerated man to keep Moore from living her life.
After the release…
When I got out, we were in the hotel room, we had some friends in the room, it was winding down and we were extremely tired, but we were still gassed up on excitement.
–Jonathan Irons (ABC’s Good Morning America)
It was just me and her in the room and I got down on my knees and I looked up at her and she kind of knew what was going on and I said, ‘Will you marry me?’ She said, ‘Yes.’
–Jonathan Irons (ABC’s Good Morning America)
As for her WNBA future, she still said she is trying to rest from the painstaking process of getting her man freed and said it could be around Spring (which would be around the would-be-scheduled start of next year’s WNBA season) before she arrives at a decision.
The new couple deserves all of the congratulations and all of the flowers! But a hot question on the minds of the social media sphere is when this story will be made into an actual movie – and who will play the two lead characters.
Starring Sanaa Lathan and Morris Chestnut. https://t.co/uoUg9bClcz
— T. Roe (@TacumaRoe) September 16, 2020
And who’s directing this testament to Black excellence? Spike Lee? Tyler Perry? Shonda Rhimes? Ava Duvernay?
Tyler perry lookin at this Maya Moore situation like pic.twitter.com/okGRShDC2g
— Big Girl Slay 💋 (@Biggirlslay) September 16, 2020
