Who is Elena Delle Donne?
Elena Delle Donne, an American born on September 5, 1989, was previously a professional basketball player. From 2009 to 2013, Delle Donne was a college basketball player for the Delaware Blue Hens. The Chicago Sky chose her with the second overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft, and she guided the team to the 2014 WNBA Finals, but they were defeated by the Phoenix Mercury. The Washington Mystics won their first WNBA championship in 2019 when Delle Donne was traded to them in 2017. In 2026, she will be honored by being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.
| Real Name/Full Name | Elena Delle Donne |
| Date Of Birth | 5 September 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Birthplace | Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Father Name | Ernest Delle Donne |
| Mother Name | Joan Delle Donne |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Hazel |
| Height | 6 feet 5 inch |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse Name | Amanda Clifton (M. 2017) |
| Children Name | N/A |
| Siblings Name | Gene Delle Donne, and Lizzie Delle Donne |
| Profession | Professional Basketball Player |
| Net Worth | $700 Thousand |
Early Life & Education
Elena Delle Donne was born on September 5th, 1989 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, and she currently resides at the age of 36. Ernest Delle Donne is the name of her father, who is both a businessman and a golf player. Joan Delle Donne was the name of her mother. He has a sister named Gene Delle Donne and a sister named Lizzie Delle Donne.
Coming to terms with her unusual height was a struggle in her childhood. According to a 2016 ESPN story, her first memory was going on a shopping trip when she was three years old and hearing other shoppers tell her mother that an 8-year-old should not be using a pacifier.
Delle Donne had to come to terms with having a body that was capable of doing things that her older sister, Lizzie, was unable to do according to the ESPN article. Lizzie was born with deafness, blindness, inability to speak, and also suffers from cerebral palsy and autism. Delle Donne acknowledges her mother’s assistance in accepting her height in another 2016 ESPN story.
Career
Delle Donne’s high school basketball stardom earned him national recognition at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. Ursuline won three consecutive Delaware State Championship titles and was named Scout.com’s number one overall high school recruit, as well as a McDonald’s All-American.
Delle Donne was recognized as an All-American by the WBCA. In 2007, she competed in the WBCA High School All-America Game and scored 17 points, resulting in MVP honors for the Red team. She also participated in volleyball. The volleyball DIAA state championship went to Delle Donne and Ursuline in 2007. In a game between the number one and two teams in the state, she scored a season high of 20 kills against Padua.
Delle Donne made it clear on August 16, 2008 that she would not accept the scholarship because of her burnout, and instead chose to attend the University of Delaware and play volleyball as a walk-on. During the 2008–09 season, she held the position of middle hitter at UD. A record of 19–16 was the outcome of the 2008 Delaware Blue Hens finishing their season. They won the conference tournament after finishing 9–5 in their conference (Colonial Athletic Association). They were able to make it to the NCAA Tournament, but lost to Oregon in the first round. Delle Donne dropped out of the volleyball team in 2009 and opted to join the basketball team.
Delle Donne’s freshman year was a very productive one. Her average score per game was 26.7, which was the third highest among all Division I women’s basketball players. On February 18, 2010, she had the highest single-game point total by any Division I female basketball player that season, scoring 54 points in a loss to James Madison. During 2009–10, she was awarded the CAA Rookie of the Week six times and the player of the week once.
Delle Donne was among the twelve players invited to the 2013 WNBA draft after completing her college career. The Chicago Sky, who went 14–20 in the 2012 season, chose her second overall in that draft. Delle Donne’s professional debut resulted in a 102–80 victory over fellow rookie Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury as she scored 22 points. The Sky earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their franchise history. Delle Donne was honoured with the 2013 Rookie of the Year award.
Delle received the honor of being the ambassador for Special Olympics in 2014. Playing with special Olympians and other NBA and WNBA legends and players was part of her career. She is the ambassador for Lyme Research Alliance. Her plan is to establish a trust fund named The Elena Delle Donne Charitable Foundation, where she intends to initiate initiatives for both the Special Olympics and Lyme disease awareness. August 2016 saw her announce her engagement to her love interest Amanda Clifton in the August edition of Vogue. This news provided her with confirmation of her sexual orientation. Has been featured in ESPN’s Body Issue 2016.
In February 2024, Delle Donne declared her intention to quit basketball and declined the contract offered by the Mystics. Delle Donne posted on her Instagram on April 4, 2025, announcing her retirement from professional basketball
Personal Life
On November 3, 2017, Elena got married to her partner of many years, Amanda Clifton. For many, the couple’s relationship has been a source of inspiration, having been together for several years.
Net Worth
Elena Delle Donne is a professional basketball player based in the United States with a net worth of $700 thousand. The sources of her income are her WNBA salary, endorsements, and business ventures. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, she has also ventured into the wine industry with her own brand, DELDON.
Delle Donne has been a part of multiple endorsement deals with different companies since being drafted in the WNBA. Delle Donne made endorsement agreements with Nike and DuPont, a chemical company located in her hometown of Wilmington, Delaware in 2013. In 2015, Delle Donne entered into a representation contract with Octagon. Along with Candace Parker and Brittney Griner, she is one of three WNBA players who have career mode icons in NBA Live 19.
