Pearl Moore
Inducted:
2021
Player Stats:
5 ft 7 inch
Born:
March 16, 1957 (age 68)
Position:
Point guard
College:
Anderson Junior College (1975)
Francis Marion (1975-1979)
Pearl Moore is one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history. Playing for Francis Marion College in the 1970s, she scored a staggering 3,951 career points, a record that still stands as the most ever scored in a U.S. women’s college basketball career (including both AIAW and NCAA history). Moore had a lightning-quick release, excellent ball control, and unmatched consistency, averaging over 30 points per game for four straight seasons.
After college, she played professionally in the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) and remained a respected ambassador for the game. Her career predated the WNBA, but her influence helped pave the way for women’s pro basketball. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021. Pearl Moore’s career set the gold standard for scoring in the women’s game — and her records still speak louder than words.
Moore's Awards & Records:
- FMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011
- All-time leading scorer in U.S. women’s college basketball
- Jersey retired by Francis Marion University
- Named AIAW Small College Player of the Year (1978)
Career Teams:
New York Stars (1979-1980)
St. Louis Streak (1980-1981)
WLB Draft:
1979: 1st round, 11th overall pick
New York Stars
Career Stats:
Games Played:
125
Points Scored:
3,951
Points Per Game:
32.5
Field Goal Percentage:
53%
Free Throw Percentage:
75%
Seasons Averaging 30+ PPG:
4