Maya Moore Emerging As Star For Lynx

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota Lynx are off to a strong start at 10-4 that leads the WNBA's Western Conference, and as WCCO-TV found out Thursday, one of the keys to their success has been the emergence of rookie Maya Moore.

Moore has lived up to the hype since she was drafted. The Minnesota Lynx rookie is the real deal. Moore has proven worthy of all the accolades that came her way, when the Lynx chose her with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft.

"She's a great player, she's a great competitor. She makes everybody around her better," said Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson. "She goes after it hard offensively and defensively, and most importantly she's a great person."

Moore has quickly become an impact forward for the Lynx, and she's getting recognized around the league for her fast start. Moore will start in Saturday's All-Star Game in San Antonio, the first rookie since 2002 to be voted in as a starter.

"A lot of these things that we're talking about aren't necessarily things I've been focusing on or really anticipating, but it's been a nice surprise," Moore said.

Moore's numbers are solid. She averages 14.2 points per game, and brings poise and moxie to the floor. She's also jelled with her teammates in her first professional season.

"For a point guard and your wings to have a good connection is always good," said Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen. "I think we feed off each other well, and she's a knock down three-point shooter so she does a lot of things and extends the defense."

Moore's star power extends far beyond the Minnesota borders. Her No. 23 jersey is the top selling jersey in all of the WNBA. It's proven Moore is already a fan favorite, and wherever she goes she demands attention. She's morphed into a hoops magnet, attracting fans to come see the Lynx and the WNBA.

"It's really cool to have a fan base excited and kind of break some new ground with these merchandise sales," Moore said.