Elena Delle Donne

Elena Delle Donne is a retired professional basketball player renowned for her exceptional skill and versatility. She began her collegiate career at the University of Delaware, where she became one of the nation's top scorers and led the Blue Hens to unprecedented success.

Selected second overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky, Delle Donne made an immediate impact, earning the Rookie of the Year award. She secured her first WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) title in 2015 with the Sky. In 2017, she was traded to the Washington Mystics, where she continued to excel, leading the team to its first WNBA Championship in 2019 and earning her second MVP award that same year. Notably, she became the first player in WNBA history to achieve MVP honors with two different franchises. ​

Throughout her 10-season career, Delle Donne was a seven-time All-Star and maintained impressive averages of 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. She also holds the WNBA career record for free-throw shooting at 93.7%. Her international accomplishments include winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics. ​

Persistent injuries led Delle Donne to sit out the 2024 season. On April 4, 2025, she announced her retirement from professional basketball. Despite retiring from play, she continues to contribute to the sport as a special advisor for Monumental Basketball, the organization overseeing the Washington Mystics and Wizards. That same year, she took the position of Managing Director for the USA Basketball Women's 3x3 National Team. Off the court, Delle Donne is the author of a middle-grade series, "Hoops," and released her memoir "My Shot: Balancing it All and Standing Tall." In 2017, she founded the Elena Delle Donne Foundation to raise funds and awareness of Lyme disease research, special needs programs, and animal welfare work.