Maya Moore, a shining star in the WNBA, stars in her own campaign from Nike’s Jordan Brand, which not only puts a spotlight on Moore’s life but pays homage to the Jumpman 23 brand man himself, Michael Jordan.

The Jordan Brand TV spot, “Wings,” which broke Sunday during WNBA season-opening action on ESPN and NBA TV, follows the career of Moore, who was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011 out of University of Connecticut, as the WNBA’s overall No. 1 pick.

Since then she has lead the Lynx to four WNBA titles (2011, 2013, 2013 2017), was Finals MVP in 2013, the WNBA MVP in 2014 and is a five-time All-Star.

The anchor TV spot shows her as a youngster and playing ball as a four-year starter at Collins Hill HS (Suwanee, GA), follows with her four years at UConn (3.036 points, 150-4 records, four NCAA Final Four appearances, two national championships) and then into the WNBA.

She also has two gold medals as a member of the USA Women’s National Team (2012 London, 2016 Rio) and won three league titles playing in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Assn.

The spot comes with the adage, “No bird soars too high, If she soars with her own wings,” a reference to the iconic “Wings” photo and poster from 1989 with Jordan extending his arms to his sides as if they were wings.

The TV spot ends with Moore re-creating the Jordan ad and subsequent poster, and has been made into its own poster, showing Moore in her Lynx jersey and palming a WNBA basketball.

The effort also includes digital, social media and outdoor.

Moore and the Lynx received their 2017 championship rings during a pre-game ceremony on Sunday before facing the Los Angeles Sparks, which lost in five games to the Lynx last season but won the title versus the Lynx in 2016.

Jordan Brand parent company Nike is in the first year of an eight-year deal as the WNBA’s official on-court apparel provider (which it launched with the NBA this past season).

Entering the 2018 season, she already has nearly 4,400 points, 464 three-point field goals, more than 1,400 rebounds, nearly 400 steals and more than 800 assists. She also has played in 55 post-season games,

The spot plays out to the song, “Feeling Good,” sung by Nina Simone (“River running free, you know how I feel/Blossom on the tree, you know how I fee/It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life for me”).

The WNBA’s Tip Off Opening Week presented by Verizon also comes with marketing support from State Farm, FanDuel; media partners ESPN, NBA TV and Twitter and other league partners.

Under its new and extended alliance, FanDuel will continue to serve as the “official one-day fantasy partner” of the WNBA, every WNBA game will have a daily fantasy component, will have the right to stream select future WNBA games and will incorporate WNBA game highlights throughout its platforms.

According to FanDuel, by next season, FanDuel users will be able to pick, follow, and watch their WNBA fantasy teams, all in one integrated experience via the FanDuel app or Web site.

The WNBA has unveiled two campaigns to address these issues, an updated version of its umbrella “Watch Me Work” platform; and the new “Take a Seat, Take a Stand,” described as a women and girls empowerment program for the 2018 season.

Beginning with the start of the season, for each ticket purchased, the WNBA will donate $5 to one of six organizations working with the league (of the fans’ choosing). People can also choose to donate tickets directly to one of the organizations. 

In addition, for each ticket purchased, the WNBA will donate a ticket to “send a young woman or girl to a game to inspire her by the strength, talent and leadership of the women of the WNBA.”

 The six organizations are Planned Parenthood, It’s On Us, GLSEN, MENTOR, Bright Pink and The United State of Women.

PHOTOS COURTESY NIKE/JORDAN BRAND

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