Elena Delle Donne is a WNBA Champion, having won the title with the Washington Mystics in 2019. She has received the WNBA MVP award twice: first in 2015 while playing for the Chicago Sky and again in 2019 with the Mystics. Delle Donne’s impact on her teams will leave a lasting legacy due to her contributions over ten years in the WNBA. She has been selected as a WNBA All-Star seven times and, in 2021, was named to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team.
College Career
Delle Donne played for the University of Delaware from 2009 to 2013. While playing for the Blue Hens, she was named twice to the All-American Team. In her final year, she led the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time. Throughout her college career, she averaged 26.7 points, 2.7 blocks, and 8.9 rebounds. In her freshman year, she was named to the CAA All-Freshman Team. Through the years, she received other honors like CAA All-Defensive (three times), CAA Player of the Year (three times), and WBCA All-American (two times).
Joining the WNBA
Delle Donne was drafted second overall in the first round of the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, where she spent her first three years before being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017. In her rookie year, she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team and earned the title of WNBA Rookie of the Year. She also received the Honda Sports Award that same year. During her time with the Mystics, she sat out the COVID bubble season (2020) and returned in 2021. However, she played only three games that season due to back-related issues, as she underwent two back surgeries in 2020. She participated in the 2022 season (played in 25 games) and the 2023 season (played in 23 games). Although the Mystics offered her a one-year supermax contract, she missed the entire 2024 season.
She also competed for the USA national team at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where they won gold.
Her Legacy
Her announcement was met with a lot of emotion and reactions from the basketball world. The Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger described her as, “One of the greatest players of all time, and only one of only two named Most Valuable Players for two different franchises.”
More on her Retirement Post
Delle Donne’s statement on her Instagram page, “One of my favorite children’s books asked, ‘How did it get so late so soon?'” I have asked myself that over and over again in the process of coming to the decision to retire from playing basketball. Being able to say that out loud was one of the hardest parts of my career. My body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it, but I now truly know this is the right thing for me at the right time. Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am to my family, all of my incredible teammates, friends, executives, sponsors, staff, and most importantly, the amazing fans that have accompanied me on this journey. This game has been my life and I am grateful for the memories and how much it’s given me. It feels good to close this chapter knowing I gave it my all and I can’t wait for what’s next!”
Wishing all the best to one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball as she retires.
