The 2019 WNBA MVP has hung up her red and white.
Elena Delle Donne, one of the most decorated players in U.S. Women’s Basketball history, announced her retirement from the WNBA on Friday, officially ending a career that was on hold after she sat out the 2024 season after multiple back surgeries.
Delle Donne will transition into a role as a special adviser to Monumental Basketball.
"We'll miss her on the court," Monumental Sports & Entertainment chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis said in a statement. "But we're glad she'll still be with us, shaping the next chapter for Monumental Basketball and all we're building. Elena's impact has been immeasurable, and we're eager to see how she'll keep pushing the game, just in a different way."
Delle Donne, 35, was the No. 2 overall pick by Chicago in 2013 and, after four seasons and an MVP Award there, pushed for a trade to Washington, yearning to be closer to her family and her hometown of Wilmington, Delaware – the same reason she spurned UConn in 2008 to play at Delaware.
In six seasons in Washington, she was a four-time All-Star, the 2019 MVP, and, of course, won the WNBA Championship that year, and averaged 18.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29.2 minutes per game over 136 games.
Delle Donne won that title and MVP with the only 50-40-90 season in league history, but she also did it with multiple herniated discs in her back, which led her to opt out of the 2020 COVID season and limited her to three games in 2021.
She returned for the bulk of 2022 and 2023, but declined the Mystics’ one-year Supermax contract offer last year to ponder her future, and now, has officially hung up her sneakers.
"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," Delle Donne wrote in her goodbye social media post. "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!"