“I will not be playing professional basketball this year.”

With that simple statement, Minnesota Lynx star Maya Moore announced that she would be taking a year off from the WNBA in 2019.

Moore’s successful career with the Lynx began in 2011. But, in her blog post on The Players’ Tribune, she pointed to a success metric that doesn’t appear on a stats sheet or a box score. Moore stated that she measures success in life in a way that she doesn’t always get to express through basketball.

I measure success by asking, ‘Am I living out my purpose?’

I learned a long time ago that my purpose is to know Jesus and to make Him known.

She says the foundation of her approach, passion, and motivation can be found in a verse she often includes in autographs:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” – Colossians 3:23

The focus for the next year, says Moore, will be on her faith, and her family.

My focus in 2019 will not be on professional basketball, but will instead be on the people in my family, as well as on investing my time in some ministry dreams that have been stirring in my heart for many years.

You can read Moore’s complete post online.