Elena Delle Donne plays professional basketball for the Washington Mystics, a division of the Women's National Basketball Association. She was a college basketball coach for the Delaware Blue Hens between 2009 and 2013.
4,000 career points
Despite her rookie status, Elena Delle Donne is already a top-level performer in the WNBA. In 2018, she was named Washington Mystics Team Captain. She was also voted team captain of the WNBA's All-Star Game. She was named Team MVP in last season's game against Atlanta Dream and reached the milestone of 4,000 career points.
Elena Delle Donne became the franchise star for the Washington Mystics in her rookie season. In the past two seasons, she has led her team to deep playoff runs. Although she has missed time this year for personal reasons and rest, when she's on the court, she's looked like a league MVP. An indicator of a player’s effectiveness is efficiency, especially in shooting percentage. Elena Delle Donne averages 17.9 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game. Furthermore, she makes 59.2% true shots. This is 5.8% more than the league average.
Three-time All-American
The versatile guard/forward at six feet five is the Honda Player-of-the-Year for 2013. She was also a two-time First Team All-American. She is currently ranked fifth in NCAA scoring and has received two Academic All-America honors. At the World University Games, she won a Gold Medal for Team USA. Delle Donne is a social activist as well as a star basketball player.
She is a former college basketball player and has a special place of gratitude for organizations that support individuals with intellectual disability. She has volunteered in her hometown of Delaware as well as while at the University of Delaware. She is also active on social media, sharing her family's life and her love for her boys. Follow Elena on Twitter and Instagram.
Honda Player of The Year
The Collegiate Women Sports Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding women athletes across the country. In addition to athletic excellence, award recipients are often recognized for their leadership skills, academic excellence, and commitment to community service. Honda has sponsored the awards from 1986. Since then, Honda has given more than $2.5million to institutions nominated for award winners. Along with Delle Done the Honda Cup winner are Brittney Griner (Ann Meyers Drysdale), Lisa Fernandez and Misty May–Treanor.
Delle Dane, a Delaware native, played college basketball at the University of Delaware. She set almost every school record, and she led the Blue Hens in two NCAA Tournament appearances. She is among only five female athletes to have scored more that 3,000 points over her career. In 2013, she was awarded the Gold Medal with Team USA at World University Games. Her outstanding career earned her the honor of Honda Player-of-the Year.
Delaware Blue Hens star
The star guard of the Delaware Blue Hens earned All-American recognition three times in her career. She scored 11th all-time and helped the Blue Hens make it to the NCAA Women's Tournament in 2013. Donne graduated with the College of Education and Human Development and remains the Colonial Athletic Association's leading scorer. This endorsement is huge for college basketball players.
The biggest challenge facing Delaware basketball this season is proving the team's support staff is up to the task. With a star such as Elena Delle Donne sat out the first few weeks, the rest of the team will be forced to prove itself in the second half. The team has many lines to fill, particularly the first act when the star will be sidelined by Lyme disease.