Elena Delle Donne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Elena Delle Donne

Delle Donne at the 2014 World Basketball Festival
Small forward / shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1989-09-05) September 5, 1989 (age 35) Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
High school	Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Delaware)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
College	Delaware (2009–2013)
NBA Draft	2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall
Selected by the Chicago Sky
Pro career	2013–2023
League	WNBA
Career history
2013–2016	Chicago Sky
2017–2023	Washington Mystics
Career highlights and awards
WNBA champion (2019) 2× WNBA MVP (2015, 2019) 7× WNBA All-Star (2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2023) 4× All-WNBA First Team (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) All-WNBA Second Team (2013) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) 50–40–90 club (2019) WNBA Rookie of the Year (2013) WNBA All-Rookie Team (2013) Honda Sports Award (2013) Senior CLASS Award (2013) 2× Women's Basketball Academic All-American of the Year (2012, 2013) 2× All-American – WBCA, USBWA (2012, 2013) 2× First-team All-American – AP (2012, 2013) Third-team All-American – AP (2010) 3× CAA Player of the Year (2010, 2012, 2013) CAA Freshman of the Year (2010) 4× First-team All-CAA (2010–2013) 3× CAA All-Defensive Team (2010, 2012, 2013) CAA All-Freshman Team (2010) Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2008) Morgan Wootten Player of the Year (2008) McDonald's All-American (2008) WNBA scoring champion (2015) WNBA Peak Performer (2015) NCAA season scoring leader (2012)
Medals Women's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team World Cup Gold 2018 Spain {{{2}}} World University Games Gold 2011 Shenzhen Team

Elena Delle Donne (born September 5, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player. She played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens from 2009 to 2013. Elena was picked second in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky. She led the Sky to the 2014 WNBA Finals, but they lost to the Phoenix Mercury. In 2017, Delle Donne joined the Washington Mystics and helped them win their first WNBA championship in 2019.

Elena Delle Donne won two WNBA Most Valuable Player Awards (in 2015 and 2019). She was chosen for seven All-Star teams. She was also the first WNBA player to join the 50–40–90 club, which means she shot very well from the field, three-point line, and free-throw line. In 2021, she was named to The W25, a list of the top 25 players in the league's first 25 years. She holds the WNBA record for the highest career free throw percentage, at 93.7%. Elena announced her retirement from professional basketball on April 4, 2025.

Elena's Early Life and Family

Elena Delle Donne is 6-foot-5-inch (1.96 m) tall. Her height comes from her parents; her dad is 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and her mom is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m). Growing up, Elena sometimes found it hard to be so tall. When she was three, people thought she was much older because of her height. In third grade, she felt embarrassed when her paper measurement was much longer than her classmates'. A doctor even suggested treatments to stop her growing taller, but her mom said no. By eighth grade, Elena was already 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m).

Elena has an older sister named Lizzie. Lizzie was born deaf and blind, cannot speak, and also has cerebral palsy and autism. Elena's mom helped her accept her height. She told Elena that her height was beautiful and unique. She encouraged Elena to be herself and not try to be like everyone else. Elena is very close to Lizzie and loves spending time with her.

High School Basketball Star

Delle Donne playing for the Ursuline Academy Raiders in 2008

Elena Delle Donne became famous as a high school basketball player at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. She led her team to win three Delaware State Championship titles in a row. Experts ranked her as the number-one high school player in the country. She was also a McDonald's All-American.

Elena was the first student at Ursuline to score over 2,000 points in high school. She also set a national record for girls' high school basketball by making 80 free throws in a row in 2005–2006. She was named a WBCA All-American. In the 2007 WBCA High School All-America Game, she scored 17 points and was named MVP for her team.

Elena also played volleyball in high school. She helped Ursuline win the DIAA state championship in volleyball in 2007.

College Career Choices

Delle Donne playing for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens in 2010

After high school, Elena was one of the most sought-after women's basketball recruits. She received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Connecticut. However, in June 2008, Elena suddenly left Connecticut's summer program after only two days. Elena is very close to her family, especially her older sister, Lizzie. She realized she wasn't ready to be far from them.

Elena's brother, Gene, explained that her bond with Lizzie is very strong. He said Elena loves being around Lizzie and experiencing her sister's affection. A week after leaving Connecticut, Elena said she had "personal issues to fix" and needed a break.

On August 16, 2008, Elena decided not to take the scholarship. Instead, she enrolled at the University of Delaware and joined their volleyball team as a walk-on player. She played as a middle hitter for the 2008–09 season. The Delaware Blue Hens volleyball team had a good season, winning their conference tournament. They made it to the NCAA Tournament but lost in the first round. Elena did not continue with the volleyball team after 2009.

Returning to Basketball

On June 2, 2009, Elena announced she would play basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens. An ESPN writer noted that her return happened the same year her brother, Gene, came back to Delaware. Elena also shared a story from 2009. She met a woman at Lizzie's school who used a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. This woman, a basketball fan, told Elena to "do everything you can with your abilities, just like we do." This inspired Elena to return to the sport.

Elena had a great first year playing basketball for Delaware. She scored 26.7 points per game, which was the third-highest among all Division I women's basketball players. In one game, she scored 54 points, the most by any Division I female player that season. She won the CAA Rookie of the Week award six times. The CAA coaches and media voted her both "Player of the Year" and "Rookie of the Year." This was a rare achievement.

Battling Illness and Leading the Team

In her second year, Elena started feeling sick with flu-like symptoms. Doctors later diagnosed her with Lyme disease. She struggled through the rest of the season but still helped her team reach the conference tournament finals.

As a junior, Elena led the entire nation in scoring, averaging 28.1 points per game. Her amazing play brought many fans to the Blue Hens' games. On February 16, 2012, Elena scored 42 points in a game, passing the 2,000-point mark for her college career. Delaware won the CAA championship and went to the 2012 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. Elena scored 39 points in their first-round win.

During her senior season (2012–13), Elena again dealt with Lyme disease and missed four games. She returned in December and led her team with 19 points. This game had the largest crowd ever for a women's basketball game at the Blue Hens' home court. Elena led her team in scoring in 22 games and in rebounds in 12 games. She scored over 30 points five times, helping her team to a great 27–3 record.

After winning the CAA conference tournament, the Blue Hens were a high seed in the 2013 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament. Elena led them to victories over two strong teams. They eventually lost to Kentucky, even though Elena scored 33 points.

WNBA Career Highlights

Delle Donne at Madison Square Garden, in the Chicago Sky's win over the New York Liberty in 2015.

After college, Elena Delle Donne was invited to the 2013 WNBA draft. The Chicago Sky picked her second overall. In her first professional game, Elena scored 22 points in a big win. Fans voted her the top player for the 2013 WNBA All-Star Game, a first for a rookie. However, she missed the game due to a concussion. After the break, Elena continued to play well. The Sky made the playoffs for the first time and were the top team in their conference. Elena was named the 2013 Rookie of the Year.

In 2014, Elena played only 16 games because of her Lyme disease. But she shined in the playoffs. She helped the Sky win a thrilling game against the Atlanta Dream, scoring 34 points and hitting a game-winning shot. She suffered a back injury in that series, which limited her play in the next round. Still, the Sky reached the WNBA Finals but lost to the Phoenix Mercury.

On September 16, 2015, Elena was named the WNBA MVP for the 2015 season. She led the league in scoring with 23.4 points per game and shot an amazing 95% from the free throw line. She also ranked third in rebounding. She scored a career-high 45 points in an overtime win and made 19 free throws in a row, a WNBA record.

In 2016, Elena averaged 21.5 points per game, helping the Sky reach the playoffs again. She suffered a thumb injury that needed surgery, which kept her out of the playoffs. Even without her, the Sky made it to the semifinals before losing to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Washington Mystics Success

Delle Donne with the Washington Mystics, 2017 WNBA semifinals

In 2017, Elena was traded to the Washington Mystics. She made her debut with 26 points in a win. She played as a power forward for a while when another player was out. Elena dealt with ankle and thumb injuries during the season. On September 1, 2017, she scored a season-high 37 points, helping the Mystics secure a playoff spot. The Mystics won their first two playoff games, reaching the semifinals for the first time in team history. They were then defeated by the Minnesota Lynx.

In 2018, Elena continued to play power forward. On June 13, 2018, she scored 36 points in a win. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to score 3,000 points, doing it in just 148 games. She was chosen for her fifth All-Star game. The Mystics finished as the third seed and reached the semifinals again. Elena scored 32 points in Game one against the Atlanta Dream. The Mystics won the series and made it to the WNBA Finals for the first time ever. However, they lost to the Seattle Storm.

During the 2019 season, Elena was voted into her sixth WNBA All-Star game and was named a team captain. On July 30, 2019, she scored a season-high 33 points. The Mystics finished as the top team in the league. Elena won her second MVP award and was named to the All-WNBA First Team. She also had her best career field goal percentage. In the semifinals, the Mystics defeated the Las Vegas Aces. Elena battled through a back injury during the WNBA Finals. Despite the injury, she helped the Mystics win the WNBA championship in five games against the Connecticut Sun. This was Elena's first WNBA championship! She also became the first woman to join the special 50–40–90 club, showing her amazing shooting skills.

In 2020, Elena chose not to play the season due to health concerns related to a widespread illness. She had back surgeries in 2020 and dealt with leg pain. She played only three games in the 2021 season. In 2021, she was named to The W25 as one of the top 25 players in the league's first 25 years.

In February 2024, Elena Delle Donne announced she would step away from basketball. On April 4, 2025, she officially announced her retirement from professional basketball.

Playing Overseas

Unlike many WNBA players, Elena Delle Donne did not play much professionally overseas. She chose to spend her off-seasons in the United States to help care for her sister, Lizzie. Her first time playing in an overseas league was in 2017. She signed a short-term deal to play for the Chinese team Shanxi Xing Rui Flame. However, a flare-up of Lyme disease forced her to return home early.

National Team Career

Delle Donne shooting a free throw in 2017

While in college, Elena was chosen for the 2011 USA Basketball Team for the World University Games in China. She led the team to a gold medal with a perfect record. She averaged 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. In the championship game, she scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds and 8 assists.

Elena was considered for the U.S. team at the 2014 World Championship. However, she was cut due to a back injury she got during the WNBA Playoffs.

On April 27, 2016, Elena was named to the 2016 United States team for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was a key role player, coming off the bench in most games. The U.S. team won the gold medal, defeating Spain. Elena Delle Donne is the sixth gold medalist from Delaware.

Personal Life and Interests

Elena Delle Donne was born in Wilmington, Delaware. Her parents are Ernie, a real estate developer, and Joanie. Her older brother, Gene, played college football. Her older sister, Elizabeth (Lizzie), is blind, deaf, autistic, and has cerebral palsy. Elena often cares for Lizzie during the WNBA off-season.

In 2008, Elena was diagnosed with Lyme disease after a tick bite. She takes many supplements and eats healthy to manage the disease. Because of her condition, she chose not to play in the 2020 WNBA season to protect her health. Elena also had back pain as early as 2014. After the 2019 WNBA finals, it was revealed she had played with serious back issues, which required surgery.

In February 2014, Elena Delle Donne became a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. She also played in a Special Olympics basketball game with athletes, NBA legends, and WNBA players. Elena plans to create The Elena Delle Donne Charitable Foundation. This foundation will support both the Special Olympics and raise awareness about Lyme disease.

Endorsement Deals

Since joining the WNBA, Elena Delle Donne has signed many endorsement deals. In 2013, she signed deals with Nike and DuPont, a chemical company from her hometown. In 2015, she signed with Octagon, a sports agency.

She is also one of three WNBA players to have career mode icons in the video game NBA Live 19.

Career Statistics

College

WNBA Regular Season

WNBA record

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2013	Chicago	30	30	31.4	.426	.438	.929°	5.6	1.8	0.7	1.8	1.3	18.1
2014	Chicago	16	9	25.4	.429	.364	.933	4.0	1.1	0.6	1.4	0.8	17.9
2015	Chicago	31	31	33.3	.460	.313	.950°	8.4	1.4	1.1	2.0	1.2	23.4°
2016	Chicago	28	28	33.1	.485	.426	.935	7.0	0.8	1.4	1.5	1.3	21.5
2017	Washington	25	25	30.3	.494	.388	.953	6.8	1.6	0.8	1.4	1.5	19.7
2018	Washington	29	29	32.2	.488	.405	.887	7.2	2.3	0.9	1.3	0.9	20.7
2019†	Washington	31	31	29.1	.515	.430	.974°	8.3	2.2	0.5	1.2	1.0	19.5
2021	Washington	3	3	17.3	.481	.600	1.000	4.3	0.7	0.0	0.3	0.7	13.7
2022	Washington	25	25	27.8	.480	.368	.913	6.3	2.3	0.5	1.1	1.1	17.2
2023	Washington	23	23	27.5	.485	.393	.938°	5.4	2.1	0.8	0.9	1.3	16.7
Career	10 years, 2 teams	241	234	30.2	.475	.392	.937	6.7	1.9	0.7	1.4	1.1	19.5

WNBA Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PPG
2013	Chicago	2	2	32.0	.381	.000	1.000	3.5	2.0	0.5	2.0	1.0	15.0
2014	Chicago	9	9	31.0	.482	.379	.919	3.3	1.6	0.3	1.5	0.8	16.8
2015	Chicago	3	3	36.3	.500	.438	1.000	6.3	2.0	0.7	1.0	2.0	21.7
2017	Washington	5	5	34.8	.449	.444	.957	8.0	2.0	0.0	0.8	1.6	20.0
2018	Washington	8	8	34.5	.453	.346	1.000	9.5	2.9	0.6	0.8	1.8	19.6
2019†	Washington	9	9	30.2	.504	.394	.885	6.6	2.0	0.8	1.5	0.8	16.9
2022	Washington	2	2	33.0	.516	.111	1.000	2.5	5.0	0.5	1.0	1.5	19.0
2023	Washington	2	2	36.5	.321	.000	1.000	4.5	3.5	0.5	1.0	0.0	11.0
Career	7 years, 2 teams	40	40	32.8	.467	.348	.954	6.1	2.3	0.5	1.3	1.2	17.9

Awards and Honors

Basketball Achievements

• 2004 – USA Today Freshman All-America, Nike All-America Camp, All-State First Team
• 2005 – Parade All-America Fourth Team, EA Sports All-America, Gatorade Delaware Player of the Year, All-State First Team
• 2006 – Slam Magazine All-American First Team, Women's Basketball Magazine All-American First Team, Parade All-American First Team, Sports Illustrated All-American Second Team, EA Sports All-American, Gatorade State Player of the Year, All-State First Team
• 2007 – Parade All-American Third Team, Gatorade State Player of the Year
• 2008 – McDonald's All-American Team, USA Today National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Gatorade National Player of the Year, EA Sports Player of the Year, Delaware Athlete of the Year
• 2010 – AP All-American Honorable Mention, CAA Player of the Year, CAA All-Defensive Team, CAA All-Rookie Team, CAA All-Tournament Team, Delaware Athlete of the Year
• 2011 – AP and WBCA All-American Third Team, All-CAA First Team, CAA All-Tournament Team
• 2012 – AP, WBCA, Wooden, and USBWA All-American First Team, CAA Player of the Year, CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Delaware Athlete of the Year
• 2013 – AP, WBCA, Wooden, and USBWA All-American First Team, CAA Player of the Year, CAA All-Defensive Team, CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, UD Outstanding Female Senior Athlete, WNBA Rookie of the Year, All-WNBA Second Team
• 2013 – Winner of the Honda Sports Award for basketball
• 2015 – WNBA Most Valuable Player, All-WNBA First Team, scoring champion
• 2016 – Nominee for ESPYS Best Female Athlete award
• 2019 – WNBA Most Valuable Player
• 2021 – The W25 (top 25 WNBA players of the league's first 25 years)

Student-Athlete Awards

• 2010 – CAA All-Academic First Team
• 2011 – CAA All-Academic First Team
• 2012 – Academic All-America Team, CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CAA All-Academic First Team
• 2013 – Academic All-America Team, Senior CLASS Award, CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, CAA All-Academic First Team
• 2014 – NCAA Today's Top 10 Award

Other Recognitions

For their first match of March 2019, the women of the United States women's national soccer team each wore a jersey with the name of a woman they were honoring on the back; Emily Fox chose the name of Delle Donne.

See also

In Spanish: Elena Delle Donne para niños