Elena Delle Donne Takes on New Roles After WNBA Retirement
Jim Tooley, CEO of USA Basketball, revealed that he contacted Elena Delle Donne almost immediately after her retirement announcement from the WNBA in April, to discuss her future plans. The former women’s basketball star has decided to remain active in the sport, taking on two significant roles. Delle Donne was announced as the director of the USA Basketball women’s 3×3 national team. In addition, she will serve a role as special advisor for Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Washington Wizards and Mystics, a team she played with for six seasons in the WNBA.The former WNBA MVP expressed that her body indicated it was time to retire, but her mind still needs to stay active and challenged. Delle Donne, 36, faced physical challenges, including back injuries and the persistent effects of Lyme disease during her career. Despite this, she established herself as one of the most outstanding players in league history, winning the MVP award in 2015 and 2019. Delle Donne plans to stay active on the court, even by coaching her niece. She was also excited to collaborate and learn from other USA Basketball directors, especially from her counterpart in the men’s 3×3 program, Jimmer Fredette. Delle Donne highlighted the importance of teamwork and the exchange of ideas with Fredette. Sue Bird, former Seattle Storm star, is the director of the women’s 5-on-5 program. Delle Donne and Bird were teammates at the 2016 Olympics. Delle Donne also expressed that she would have liked to play 3-on-3 at the Olympics. Delle Donne mentioned players like Kelsey Plum, Allisha Gray, and Jackie Young, who have excelled in 3×3 basketball and have had success in 5-on-5. Delle Donne commented that playing 3-on-3 helps players become more creative and improve their shooting ability, which increases their confidence. Delle Donne also talked about Napheesa Collier, who matched her 2019 achievement by achieving a 50-40-90 shooting percentage in a WNBA season. Delle Donne expressed her joy at Collier’s achievement.I knew that I would obviously need to keep myself busy, given my personality during my playing career. I wanted to stay involved in the game, but also have flexibility. That’s why I chose these two roles.
Elena Delle Donne
