Quick Info
| Profession | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 05/09/1989 |
| Age | 36 years |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware |
Latest News about Elena Delle Donne
04/04/2025
Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement from professional basketball after a 10-season WNBA career. The announcement came after she sat out the 2024 season due to persistent injuries. She continues to contribute to basketball as a special advisor for Monumental Basketball, the organization overseeing the Washington Mystics and Wizards.
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 6' 5" |
|---|---|
| Weight | 187 lbs |
| Eye Color | Hazel Green |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Bachelor's degree in Human Services | University of Delaware |
|---|
Personal Life
| School | Ursuline Academy |
|---|---|
| College | University of Delaware (2009–2013) |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
|---|---|
| Sexual Orientation | Homosexual |
| Affairs | Amanda Clifton |
| Fiancee | Amanda Cliffton |
| Spouse | Amanda Clifton |
Family
| Father | Ernest Delle Donne |
|---|---|
| Mother | Joan Delle Donne |
| Siblings | Brother - Gene, Sister - Elizabeth (Lizzie) |
Career
| International Debut | 2016 Rio Olympics |
|---|---|
| Coach/Mentor | Pokey Chatman (Current Chicago Sky coach) |
| Club | Washington Mystics |
| Career Turning Point | 2013 WNBA All-Star Game |
| Olympic Achievement | Gold medalist at 2016 Rio Olympics |
| WNBA Championships | 2019 (Washington Mystics) |
| WNBA MVP Awards | 2015 (Chicago Sky), 2019 (Washington Mystics) |
| WNBA Rookie of the Year | 2013 |
| Previous Club | Chicago Sky (2013–2016) |
| World Championship | Gold medalist at 2018 World Championship |
| WNBA All-Star | 7× (2013–2015, 2017–2019, 2023) |
| All-WNBA First Team | 4× (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) |
| Career Free Throw Percentage | 93.7% (WNBA career record) |
| Career Points | 3,000+ points (fastest in WNBA history at 148 games) |
| Career Averages | 19.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game |
| College Records | 45 school records at University of Delaware, 3,039 points (No. 5 all-time NCAA) |
| College Averages | 26.7 points, 8.9 rebounds per game |
| Retirement | Announced April 4, 2025 |
| Current Role | Special Advisor for Monumental Basketball |
Favourites
| Hobbies | Collecting shoes, Golf, Fishing, Building tables |
|---|---|
| Inspiration for Basketball | Michael Jordan |
| Favorite Team | Dallas Cowboys |
| Favorite Pet | Dogs |
| Favorite TV shows | How to Get Away with Murder, American Dad, Scandal, Homeland |
| Favorite Music Artist | Katy Perry |
| Favorite Destination | Home |
| Favorite Holiday | Christmas |
| Favorite Book | Angel Unaware |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Elena started playing basketball in school and has been recognized and awarded by multiple institutions. | |
| 2. She is very close to her elder sister Lizzie, who has cerebral palsy and is blind and deaf. | |
| 3. During off-seasons, Elena spends time caring for her sister. | |
| 4. In 2014, she became an ambassador for Special Olympics. | |
| 5. Elena plans to establish The Elena Delle Donne Charitable Foundation. | |
| 6. She announced her engagement to Amanda Clifton in 2016. | |
| 7. Elena has a tattoo with two wings holding her sister's name, Lizzie. | |
| 8. She played volleyball in her freshman year at Delaware. | |
| 9. Her fiancée, Amanda Clifton, is also her business partner and director of the Delle Donne Academy. | |
| 10. Elena is widely regarded as one of the top women's basketball players. | |
| 11. She is the all-time WNBA leader in career free throw percentage at 93.7%. | |
| 12. She was inducted into the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. | |
| 13. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 3,000 career points in 148 games. | |
| 14. In 2014, she became a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. | |
| 15. She founded The Elena Delle Donne Foundation in 2017 to raise funds and awareness for Lyme disease research, special needs programs, and animal welfare. | |
| 16. Her spouse, Amanda Clifton, is also her business partner and director of the Delle Donne Academy. | |
| 17. She was the first and only student at Ursuline Academy to score 2,000+ points during high school career. | |
| 18. She set the girls' high school national record for consecutive free throws made (80) in 2005–2006. | |
| 19. She was ranked as the number-one overall high school recruit by Scout.com and was a McDonald's All-American. | |
| 20. She led Ursuline Academy to three straight Delaware State Championship titles. | |
| 21. She was the 2013 Honda National Player of the Year. | |
| 22. She was a two-time Capital One National Academic All-American of the Year. | |
| 23. She was diagnosed with Lyme Disease during her sophomore year at Delaware and is now an ambassador for Lyme Research Alliance. | |
| 24. She is the author of the middle-grade book series 'Hoops' and released her memoir 'My Shot: Balancing it All and Standing Tall.' | |
| 25. She sat out the 2024 WNBA season due to persistent injuries. | |
| 26. She was the first player in WNBA history to achieve MVP honors with two different franchises. |