Two-time WNBA MVP and 2019 champion Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement from basketball on Friday.
Delle Donne, 35, was the No. 2 pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft out of Delaware and went on to have one of the most accomplished careers for a player of her generation.
In addition to her title and MVPs, the former Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics forward made seven All-Star appearances, four All-WNBA first-teams and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2016 Olympics. In 2021, Delle Donne was named to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team.
She sat out last year’s WNBA season and was currently unsigned. Back surgeries and other injuries limited her availability during her final seasons.
Delle Donne will serve as a special adviser to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Mystics, according to a release.
“One of my favorite children’s books asked, ‘How did it get so late so soon?’ ” Delle Donne wrote in her Instagram post announcing her retirement. “I have asked myself that over and over again in the process of coming to the decision to retire from playing basketball. Being able to say that out loud was one of the hardest parts of my career. My body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it but I now truly know this is the right thing for me at the right time.”
The Mystics used their core designation on Delle Donne ahead of free agency last offseason, but she declined to accept the offer, which would have entailed a one-year deal and the league maximum salary. As a result, she sat out. Washington did not use its core designation on Delle Donne this offseason, leading some to wonder whether she would retire.
Delle Donne entered the WNBA after back-to-back seasons as a first-team All-American at Delaware in 2011-12 and 2012-13. She won WNBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 with Chicago and led the Sky to the playoffs in all four of her seasons with the franchise. Chicago traded her to Washington before the 2017 season.
“Elena Delle Donne has been a transformative force for the Washington Mystics and women’s basketball,” Monumental Sports & Entertainment chairman and CEO Ted Leonsis said in the statement. “A champion and MVP on and off the court, her legacy as a player, leader, and ambassador will leave a permanent mark on the game, and on generations of young women, for years to come. We’ll miss her on the court. But we’re glad she’ll still be with us, shaping the next chapter for Monumental Basketball and all we’re building.”
After leading Washington to the 2019 WNBA championship, the franchise’s first, she continued to play at a high level until injuries curtailed the latter part of her career. She played only three games in 2021 after undergoing a pair of back surgeries. She was limited in 2022, playing in only 25 games and missed time in 2023 with ankle and hip injuries. She appeared in only 55 games, including the playoffs, since leading the Mystics to a title.
“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 said. “This game has been my life and I am grateful for the memories and how much it’s given me.”
Washington holds the Nos. 3, 4 and 6 picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Not only will Delle Donne no longer be with the franchise, but the Mystics hired a new coach and general manager this offseason, Sydney Johnson and Jamila Wideman, respectively.
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
