EXCLUSIVE: Love for Maya Moore Brings Out Nostalgic Tale From WNBA Star Caitlin Bickle

When Maya Moore’s jersey rose to the rafters, it wasn’t just a piece of fabric being lifted—it was the weight of her legacy, the impact she’s had on women’s basketball, rising with it for everyone to see. From going as the first overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft to winning four championships in less than a decade, she shattered doubts around the WNBA lacking the same credibility as the NBA. Sure, her time in the league did not last as long as that of any average player. However, as Peeta Mallark once said “Our lives are not measured in years, but are measured in the lives of people we touch around us.” One person whose life the former player certainly touched was that of Caitlin Bickle.

Caitlin Bickle was in her middle school days, hanging out at a hotel, and just going about her business as usual when she found out that Maya Moore was staying there too. For any fan, that’s a dream scenario. Especially for Bickle, who recently told EssentiallySports that growing up, she did not watch much of women’s basketball. Hence, she did not have a role model, but one thing was as clear as day to her- she definitely loved Maya Moore. Despite her little interest in the W then, she would always make sure to tune in and watch Moore’s smooth shooting.

The Connecticut Suns player sat down for an interview with EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw. During the conversation, she was asked about her favorite player of all time. From the men’s side, Bickle chose LeBron James over Michael Jordan. As for a female player, which must be clear to you by now, she went with Maya Moore. She shared that memorable moment, saying, “We all got so excited. Got a picture and all that..So, I definitely loved, you know, I didn’t watch as much women’s basketball growing up because I didn’t exactly have those Role Models. But she was the one that I like always tuned in on, and made sure to watch”.

It was certainly fitting that LeBron James and Maya Moore were both listed as Caitlin Bickle’s favorite players while she was growing up. After all, Moore was to aspiring female basketball players what LeBron was to male players. Last year, amid Moore’s jersey retirement, LeBron James took to Twitter to honor her remarkable career, writing: “Congratulations 23! Absolute legend!” One legendary No. 23 tipping his crown to another!

However, along with her contribution to the basketball league, Moore also won hearts for her role in activism. She purposely missed the 2019 and 2020 WNBA seasons to focus on her family and “ministry dreams”, as highlighted by MPR News. This included fighting for prosecutorial reform in the American justice system. Specifically, Moore pressed for the release of Jonathan Irons. Irons was sentenced to 50 years, at the age of just 16 years old, back in 1998. With Moore’s help, Irons was released on July 1st, 2020. This act of courage also earned her the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2021.

As ‘FiveThirtyEight’ writers Chris Herring and Neil Paine highlighted, “Moore is special because she could have gone about her business as one of the best players in WNBA history, but instead she chose to lend her voice and platform to victims of injustice”. This is why her legacy is celebrated by not only WNBA stars but also those belonging to the NBA.

That kind of impact isn’t just about stats or trophies—it’s about resilience, the kind that inspires people to push forward no matter the odds. Caitlin Bickle, in her own way, embodies that same spirit.

No Training Wheels, No Problem

It is fair to say that Bickle’s enchantment with Moore must have enhanced the inner resilience she had even as a five-year-old. Bickle’s will to keep pushing forward, no matter how many times she fell—literally, in her horseback riding days—mirrors the kind of determination that made Maya Moore a game-changer in women’s basketball. Whether it was getting back on a horse after a hard fall or getting back on the court after a setback, Bickle’s mindset is simple: “Might as well keep doing it.”

As reported by ESPN, Bickle’s mother, Lyn, once shared a story about how young Caitlin learned to ride a bike on a bumpy, grassy field—without training wheels. “She just got on and rode, no training wheels. It was the craziest thing,” she said. In a way, it all connects back to why she admires Maya Moore so much.

Fast forward to her college years, and Bickle was making a name for herself at Baylor. She became a key part of the team, earning spots on the 2023 All-Big 12 Second Team and the 2023 Big 12 All-Defensive Team. For Baylor head coach Nicki Collen, Bickle was more than just a talented player—she was the glue that held the team together. “Caitlin’s like my security blanket,” Collen said. “She makes me comfortable as a coach. I know we’re going to run stuff, I know we’re going to be in the right defenses. I know, when in doubt, she’s going to go set a screen.”

And if you ask Bickle what she loves most about playing, she won’t talk about scoring or stuffing the stat sheet. Instead, she’s all about making her teammates shine. “I used to do it with [NaLyssa] and Queen,” she said. “Now, I get to do it with [Darianna Littlepage] Buggs, I get to do it with Bella [Fontleroy], I get to do it with all my guards. I really, really enjoy it.”

It’s easy to see how Caitlin Bickle has become a driving force in women’s basketball. And if you trace it back, you just might find Maya Moore’s influence fueling that journey.