Explaining the Historical Influence of Maya Moore and Her Iconic SLAM Cover

In the summer of 2018, a silent time bomb was detonated in the SLAM empire. Maya Moore earned a historic spot in a three-part cover series that ended the set at 217. Remarkably, she was the second woman to do so. The first was when we asked the NBA if they were ready for Chamique Holdsclaw back in ’98. (They weren’t–and neither were our students apparently). But when our attempts to challenge the status quo with Chamique hit a glass ceiling–Maya shattered everything.

Seeing Moore’s grace on the front page of SLAM 217 made me swoon, the problem was, I couldn’t find his cover anywhere. Sold by SLAM goods, not sniffing it on eBay. It seemed like whoever was lucky enough to catch that first sales pitch held on to it… and for good reason.

To say that Maya Moore is one of the greatest actresses ever seen is not an understatement. He was a champion at every level. From High School to College to the WNBA, even to the Olympic stage—titles were secured. Not only that, the list of awards that accompanied these awards and accolades is almost unimaginable. He is an undisputed Hall of Famer, and if you consider him your basketball scapegoat, I would be reluctant to disagree.

There was more to Maya Moore’s game than hardware, though. It’s less tangible than medals, but it has more impact, somehow. A feature that is not easy to explain. Although he was aggressive on the boards and had such quick hands that the steals sounded like camera tricks, his play and scoring ability had an awe-inspiring quality. Magic. A magical form of ‘poetry in motion’. The kind that give you goosebumps and watery eyes when replayed in slow-mo. The kind that reminds us of the beauty of the game we once loved.

Since MJ is one of the few who has had this effect on us before, it was only fitting that Maya was taken by Jordan Brand before she even stepped foot on the WNBA court – and when she left in 2018, she did. therefore a signature pair of Jordan 10s, and as an icon of the Jordan Family.

Walking away from the game in his first season was no small feat, and it was not without purpose. Outside of basketball, Moore has been fighting for social justice long before the cry for freedom was allowed to be printed on team uniforms. He was the voice of the suffering community when disciplinary action was taken against players who refused to remain silent on their political views. It was her direct commitment to reforming the criminal justice system that led her to sit out the 2019 and 2020 WNBA seasons, and eventually retire in early 2023. If recent history has taught us anything, it’s that some things are bigger than basketball.

In some ways, Maya Moore’s presence in issue 217 was bigger than SLAM. The floodgates burst open, women’s cheers followed, and it catapulted our coverage of Women’s Basketball into a new era. Some of the dopest covers we’ve released since then have featured the likes of Candace Parker, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese. We also saw three rounds of WSLAM specials. Each drop brings us back to Maya Moore’s Mona Lisa smile, quietly confident, affecting change without breaking character.

As a SLAM fanatic who deeply admires Moore’s journey on and off the court, it was imperative that I add his cover to my collection in some way. It would be interesting to think that we as a people can somehow adapt ourselves to those we respect – such as signed records, game-worn jerseys and signed shoes – this will show my loyalty to his country. Finally, I walked into the house, and a member of the SLAM family (shout out Peter Walsh) put me in touch with my copy. For me, this will never exist as another spine on the shelf. It had to be framed and placed in a prime position. It should be watched, discussed and remembered… and when the inevitable Maya Moore biopic is released one day in the future, I will proudly point to Maya at SLAM 217 and I will let you know, like any true SLAM-head. It’s right, that I’ve been down since the first day.

Photos via Getty Images.