Colony grad a member of WNBA runner-up

PHOENIX, Ariz. — A former Colony High School star finished one win shy of a Women’s National Basketball League championship.

The Phoenix Mercury used a 94-86 victory over the Indiana Fever in the decisive fifth game of the best-of-5 championship series on Friday to win the WNBA title and prevent Jessica Moore, a two-time Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year, from cutting down the net following the final series.

Moore, a 2000 graduate of Colony High, is a reserve center for the Fever.

Moore, who has played for three different WNBA teams since she was selected in the 2005 league draft, was in reach adding a professional championship to her illustrious basketball resume, which had already included titles at the prep and college level.

While in high school, Moore led the Knights to the 1998 Alaska 4A state girls title. Later, as a member of the Division I University of Connecticut Huskies, Moore was a member of three national championship teams.

“She’s an amazing kid,” said longtime Colony girls basketball mentor Don Witzel, Moore’s coach with the Knights.

Moore, a 6-foot-3 center, averaged about 15 minutes per game off the bench, serving as a defensive specialist for the Fever.

“She’s got a role to play, and she understands that,” Witzel said. “She seems to play very well into that role. She brings to them a very positive attitude, and a lot of energy.”

In 15.2 minutes per game during the regular season, Moore averaged about five points and three rebounds per contest. Moore made 31 appearances after she was signed by the Fever three games into the start of the 2009 season.

Moore saw action in 10 playoff games.

In the series finale on Friday, Moore saw just five minutes of action, a playoff low for the Palmer native. Moore was held scoreless on three attempts from the floor, but pulled down a pair of rebounds and grabbed a steal.

She scored four points during Indiana’s 86-85 win over the Mercury last Sunday. On Wednesday, hit a pair of free throws and pulled down three rebounds during a 90-77 loss to Phoenix.

Witzel, who still corresponds with Moore and occasionally get a chance to see his former star on television, said Moore still does many things that don’t show up on the statistic sheets.

“She does a great job of blocking out,” Witzel said. “She keeps making herself valuable to teams.”

Her storied career started at Palmer High School, where she helped lead the Moose varsity to a spot in the 1997 state tile game. After transferring to Colony the following year, Moore led the Knights to a 54-44 win over Chugiak in the 1998 title game.

During her time at CHS, Moore was named the Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year twice. She was also a Parade All-American.

At UConn, Moore was part of a senior class that capped its time in Storrs, Conn., with a 132-13 record. Moore was a member of three national championship teams, and started 72 straight games during her career.

Moore consistently led her team in rebounding and finished her career ranked third in school history with a 58.4 field goal percentage.

In 2005, Moore was selected by the Charlotte Sting with the 24th pick in the WNBA draft. Her stay in Charlotte was short, but she landed with the Los Angeles Sparks during the 2005 season.

Moore spent four season in Los Angeles. Moore played in 106 games for the Sparks, making 52 starts.

Moore started 33 games during the 2006, and helped Los Angeles advance to the WNBA playoffs.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.