Elena Delle Donne - The Hero

BASKETBALL - POWER FORWARD - WNBA - WASHINGTON MYSTICS - TEAM USA

ARCHETYPE: THE HERO

Day 55/135

Athletic Accomplishments

I don’t know who has to hear this, but Elena Delle Donne is insanely good at basketball. A two-time WNBA MVP, six-time All-Star, 2016 Olympic gold medalist, 2018 World Cup gold medalist, and 2019 WNBA Champion.

Let’s go back to the beginning. Delle Donne led her high school team to three state championships. She was one of the top national recruits, and originally committed to UConn. But Delle Donne has always been close to her family and could not bring herself to leave her sister Lizzie, who was born with cerebral palsy and autism, rendering her deaf, blind, and unable to speak. The relationship with her sister is sacred to Delle Donne, and it was important to her to be close to home. She decided to attend the University of Delaware, taking a break from basketball for 2007-2008 due to burnout, and instead walked on the UDel volleyball team.

In 2009, Delle Donne joined the UDel team, where she had an instant impact as the CAA’s Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. By 2012, she led the nation in scoring, averaging 28.1 points per game, and led UDel to a CAA Championship and their first ever NCAA tournament win.

In 2013, Delle Donne was drafted second in the WNBA Draft, by the Chicago Sky. Once again, Delle Donne had an instant impact, winning Rookie of the Year honors and becoming the first rookie to lead all players for votes for the All-Star Game.

She led the Sky to the 2014 WNBA Finals and in 2015 was voted WNBA MVP.

In 2017, EDD was traded to the Washington Mystics. In 2019, she won her first—and the team’s first—WNBA championship title in 2019, along with MVP honors. She also became the first WNBA player to join the elite 50-40-90 club, shooting over 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free throw line.

It is important to note that Delle Donne opted out of the 2020 WNBA season based on the recommendation of her personal physician, who has treated her for Lyme disease since her diagnosis in 2008. Not knowing how COVID would interact with the chronic disease, her doctor did not think it was worth the risk of infection. Notably, WNBA physicians did not approve Delle Donne’s medical exemption, which meant she would have to go without pay for the season. Unlike NBA players, even the reigning MVP doesn’t make millions of dollars—her annual salary is $224,870. So, this was a real gut punch to someone in her playing prime. Delle Donne wrote for The Players’ Tribune about her condition, indicating that she takes 64 pills a day to keep her Lyme disease in check. Ultimately, the Mystics paid Delle Donne her salary in full.

Character Archetype: The Hero

At 6’5”, Elena Delle Donne is a match-up nightmare. Not only does she have height and indomitable post moves, she’s also a lights-out shooter and the first WNBA player to join the elite 50-40-90 club, shooting over 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 90% from the free throw line.

But it’s more than her skill that make EDD a hero. It’s her toughness and resolve. Despite having a broken nose, a deep bone bruise in her knee, and 3 herniated discs that caused her to miss Game 2 of the 2019 Finals, Delle Donne still led the Mystics to their first WNBA championship. Now that's an MVP.

EDD is a conquering hero, who has no problem fighting through injuries, illnesses, and obstacles. No matter the odds, she finds a way to shine when the pressure is on.