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Tiny Lynx Fan Meets Big-Time Basketball Star After Viral Photo

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A young Minnesota Lynx fan, who posed below Maya Moore's iconic "wings" billboard in downtown Minneapolis, got to meet her hero Thursday night.

When 4-year-old Liliana Sikakane met the person behind the poster, she could not quite find the right words.

"I screamed," Liliana said. "Because I wanted to meet her."

Her dad, Justice, took the photo of Liliana standing in front of Moore's billboard, arms spread wide. He says the photo almost did not happen. They were walking to a Minnesota Twins game when Liliana started asking questions -- all kinds of questions.

Lynx Fan Girl
(credit: CBS/Lynx)

"We ended up getting to a point where I was like, 'Men play basketball on TV,' and she was like, 'Well, do girls get to play basketball on TV?' and I said, 'Absolutely,'" said Justice.

So he decided to pivot away from Target Field, towards Target Center to watch the Lynx play the Los Angeles Sparks. Liliana led the way from there.

"I could see the poster off in the distance, and she said, 'Daddy I can do that!'" said Justice.

So she did, and when she met Moore in person, she learned she could play, too.

Moore taught her the fundamentals, like passing, shooting and learning how to fly with your own wings.

"I want to play basketball," Liliana said.

Just like Maya.

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