Elena Delle Donne: From Delaware to the Basketball Court – A Journey of Resilience
In the quiet suburbs of Wilmington, Delaware, a remarkable story of determination was taking shape. Elena Delle Donne was never going to be defined by limitations – not by chronic illness, not by family challenges, and certainly not by the expectations others might set for her. From her earliest days, she was writing a narrative of extraordinary resilience that would transcend the basketball court.
Born into a family that valued compassion as much as competition, Elena’s life was shaped by a profound understanding of love and support. Her sister, Lizzie, who lives with cerebral palsy and is deaf and blind, would become a central inspiration for Elena’s most important life choices. This connection would ultimately define not just her personal journey, but her professional trajectory in ways no one could have anticipated.
The Early Years: Finding Her Path Through Challenges
At just four years old, Elena first stepped onto a basketball court, inspired by her older brother and WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes. “I remember going outside and trying to copy Sheryl Swoopes’ moves,” Elena once recalled. “I became a sneakerhead pretty quickly and was obsessed with shoes. I loved basketball because there was a Sheryl Swoopes shoe and I just had to have it.”
Her high school career would culminate in four state championships and the distinction of becoming Delaware’s all-time leading scorer with 2,475 points. Recruiters from across the nation took notice of the 6’5″ phenom who moved with the grace of a guard despite her center’s height.
But the path to greatness is rarely straight. In a decision that shocked the basketball world, Elena Delle Donne walked away from a scholarship at women’s basketball powerhouse UConn after just 48 hours on campus. The pressure had become overwhelming, and being away from Lizzie was more than she could bear.
“I did not touch a basketball,” Elena said of that summer. “In my mind, I had quit that for good.” She enrolled at the University of Delaware and joined the volleyball team, seeking respite from the game that had consumed her life. But basketball’s pull proved too strong to resist.
The Comeback: Rising From Burnout to Basketball Brilliance
When Elena returned to basketball at Delaware, she didn’t just play – she dominated. Setting 45 school records and finishing as the fifth all-time leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,039 points, she reinvented herself as a player who found joy in the game again. Her 26.7 points per game average was a testament not just to skill, but to renewed passion.
Selected second overall in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Chicago Sky, Elena’s professional career launched with the force of a supernova. She earned Rookie of the Year honors unanimously, while leading the Sky to their first-ever playoff appearance. But lurking beneath the surface of this success was an invisible adversary that would test her resilience in ways no defender ever could.
Battling Invisible Challenges: The Lyme Disease Struggle
Lyme disease would become an unexpected opponent in Elena’s life – one far more challenging than any basketball rival. Diagnosed early in her career, the illness threatened to derail her athletic dreams. Debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and neurological challenges could have easily ended her professional aspirations. But Elena Delle Donne approached her health battle with the same fierce determination she brought to the basketball court.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Lyme disease can be particularly challenging for athletes, often causing extreme fatigue and physical limitations. Yet Elena refused to be sidelined. She developed intricate management strategies, working closely with medical professionals to understand her body’s unique needs while continuing to train and compete at the highest level.
The 2014 season saw Elena play just 16 games due to Lyme disease flare-ups, yet she still averaged 18 points per game and earned All-Star honors. While others might have seen this as a setback, Elena used it as motivation, returning in 2015 to deliver one of the greatest individual seasons in WNBA history – winning the MVP award while averaging 23.4 points per game and securing the league scoring title.
A Sister’s Love: The Trade That Changed Everything
Perhaps her most profound personal decision came when she forced a trade from the Chicago Sky to the Washington Mystics. This wasn’t just a professional move – it was a deeply personal choice driven by her commitment to family. Being closer to her sister Lizzie became a priority that transcended her basketball career.
“That’s what makes being apart from Lizzie so tough. I can’t just Skype with her when I’m missing her. I can’t text her. I can’t call her,” Elena explained. “I have to be with her to communicate — she has to literally touch me. Or smell me.”
“Family isn’t just important – it’s everything,” Elena Delle Donne would later reflect in interviews with The Players’ Tribune. Her decision demonstrated a remarkable ability to prioritize human connection over professional accolades.
The move to Washington brought her closer to her roots in Delaware, allowing for the precious physical connection with Lizzie that no FaceTime call could replicate. It was a powerful statement in a sports world that often demands athletes sacrifice everything for their careers.
Making History: The 50-40-90 Club and MVP Excellence
In Washington, Elena Delle Donne’s game reached new heights. The 2019 season saw her make history as the first WNBA player to join the prestigious 50-40-90 club – shooting over 50% from the field, 40% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. It’s a statistical achievement so rare that only ten NBA players have ever accomplished it.
“It’s always incredible when you know something you’ve done will go down in history,” Elena said after receiving her second MVP award. “And it’s even more inspiring to know that there’s little girls looking up to me that maybe are dreaming of doing the same or doing more.”
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Elena accomplished it while battling not just Lyme disease, but also wearing a face mask for a broken nose, a knee brace for lingering knee issues, and dealing with back spasms that would later be revealed as three herniated discs.
Elena Delle Donne: Turning Personal Struggle into Collective Empowerment
The Washington Mystics would become the stage for Elena’s ultimate triumph. In 2019, she led the team to its first WNBA championship, a victory made sweeter by her personal journey of overcoming chronic illness. This wasn’t just a win for the team – it was a statement about human potential.
Playing through excruciating pain from her back injury, Elena averaged 15 points across the final three games of the championship series, including a 21-point performance in the decisive Game 5. On October 10, 2019, as she lifted the WNBA Championship trophy, it represented not just athletic achievement but the culmination of a life spent defying limitations.
Her Elena Delle Donne Foundation would become another powerful platform for advocacy. Focusing on supporting individuals with disabilities and raising awareness about Lyme disease, she transformed her personal challenges into a broader mission of support and understanding.
Standing Her Ground: The 2020 Season and Health Advocacy
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Elena faced another difficult decision. With her compromised immune system from Lyme disease, playing in the WNBA bubble presented significant health risks. Despite submitting a letter from her personal physician recommending she avoid joining her teammates in Florida, the WNBA’s medical panel denied her request for a medical exemption.
“I love my team, and we had an unbelievable season last year, and I want to play!” Elena said in a statement. “But the question is whether or not the WNBA bubble is safe for me.”
In a powerful demonstration of organizational loyalty, the Washington Mystics stepped forward, agreeing to pay Elena’s salary even if she chose not to play. “The Mystics organization will never put Elena’s — or any other of our players’ — health and well-being in jeopardy at any time,” head coach Mike Thibault stated. “Her long-term care and health as a major foundation piece of the Mystics will always take precedence.”
This stand highlighted Elena Delle Donne’s growing impact beyond the box score, establishing her as an advocate for player health and safety in a league that continues to evolve its approach to player welfare.
Beyond the Court: A Legacy of Inspiration
Elena’s story is about far more than athletic achievement. It’s a testament to the human capacity for resilience, compassion, and transformative love. She has shown that true strength isn’t about never facing challenges, but about how we choose to respond to them.
“I think everyone has their own story,” Elena Delle Donne once reflected. “I hope that I can be some type of inspiration where if there’s a young athlete out there struggling or going through tough times, they’ll know there’s another route.”
Through her foundation, her athletic achievements, and her unwavering commitment to her family, Elena Delle Donne has redefined what it means to be a champion. She’s proven that success isn’t just measured in points scored or championships won, but in lives touched and barriers broken.
As she continues to forge her path in basketball and beyond, Elena remains a powerful example of what happens when an athlete embraces their whole self – challenges, limitations, and all – to create something truly extraordinary.
Inspired by Elena’s journey? Learn more about Lyme disease awareness, support disability advocacy, or share her story of resilience. Every individual has the power to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and inspiration.
Follow Elena’s foundation work at https://www.elenadelledonne.com/foundation and discover how you can contribute to causes that empower those facing similar challenges. Because as Elena has shown us, true champions rise not despite their struggles, but because of them.
Continue Your Inspiration Journey
If Elena’s story resonates with you, you’ll find equal inspiration in the remarkable journey of Susana Rodriguez Gacio. This Spanish Paralympic triathlete and practicing doctor has redefined what’s possible while navigating life with albinism and visual impairment. From competing on the world stage to serving on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, Susana exemplifies the same unbreakable spirit that defines true champions. Discover her extraordinary path in our feature “Susana Rodriguez: Vision Beyond Sight” and witness another powerful testament to human potential unleashed through determination and purpose.
Photo: By TonyTheTiger – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
