Not many have taken over the college basketball world standing just 5’6″. But Moriah Jefferson did exactly that during her time at UConn. 4 years, four consecutive championships, along with that was the incredible 151-5 record. And believe it or not, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Jefferson finished 22nd on UConn’s all-time scoring list with 1,532 points, became the program’s all-time leader in assists with 659, and ranked second in steals with 353. On top of that, she won the Nancy Lieberman Award which is given to the nation’s top point guard–not once, but twice.

You would think that a player of her caliber was going to light up the W, right? Well, that was the general consensus among everyone in the league anyway. Naturally, she was selected as the second overall pick in the 2016 draft behind her teammate Breanna Stewart by the San Antonio Stars.

Unfortunately, Jefferson wasn’t able to find the same level of success in the WNBA. But a lot of that wasn’t her fault. Two back-to-back knee injuries seriously impacted her ability to showcase her full skill set. Add to that the challenges of being 5’6″ in a league where size often matters. The odds were firmly stacked against her.

Now playing for the Chicago Sky alongside Angel Reese, Jefferson continues to make her mark in the WNBA. This article will explore Moriah Jefferson’s ethnicity and religion, diving a little deeper into her background.

Where is Moriah Jefferson from, and What is Moriah Jefferson’s Nationality?

Moriah Jefferson was born on March 8, 1994, in Dallas, Texas, U.S. Having grown up in the States, Jefferson honed her skills playing for the Texas Home Educators Sports Association (THESA) Riders as a homeschooled athlete and later for UConn in college. That’s not all! Having represented the national team at various levels, it’s safe to say that Jefferson is an American by nationality.

What is Moriah Jefferson’s ethnicity?

Not much is publicly known about Moriah Jefferson’s parents and their background, except that her father, Lorenza, worked at Federal Express while her mother, Robin, was an assistant on Coach Alan Burt’s staff (THESA). Both of them were instrumental in shaping Moriah into the player she is today. In a conversation with The Athletic, the Jeffersons revealed that homeschooling allowed their daughter to dedicate more time to basketball.

Her father would record all her games so Moriah could review the footage, analyze how she was being defended, and work on improving her game. But that didn’t mean that she was ignoring academics. Robin taught her subjects two years ahead of her grade level. There’s no doubt about the fact that she wouldn’t be the player she is today without the contribution of her parents.

And as for her roots? She proudly represents the African-American community!

What religion is Moriah Jefferson?

Faith has always played a big role in Moriah Jefferson’s life. She is a devoted Christian and has often talked about how important her faith is to her. One Bible verse that really inspires her is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,’”

When she was waived for the first time in her career by the Dallas Wings in 2022, it was uncharted territory for her, but her faith was what kept her going. “I lock in on God every day and trying to change little things in my life, little habits,” Jefferson said to CT Insider. “I think doing that prepared me as soon as I got to Dallas to the moment that I’m here (Minnesota) now and having to be a leader for this team and stepping up.”

Moriah has been in search of a steady ground since, averaging 8.5 minutes, but never giving up.