Last Updated on April 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here’s detailed information about Elena Delle Donne:

  • Full Name: Elena Delle Donne
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born on September 5, 1989
  • Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
  • Weight: 187 pounds (85 kg)
  • Wingspan: Approximately 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (women’s size)
  • Shoe Brand: Nike Air Deldon, Nike KD 12
  • Jersey Number (College and WNBA):
    • #11 — Delaware Blue Hens (College)
    • #11 — Chicago Sky (WNBA)
    • #11 — Washington Mystics (WNBA)
  • Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
  • High School: Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Delaware)
  • College: University of Delaware (2009–2013)
  • WNBA Draft: 2013 (1st round, 2nd pick overall by the Chicago Sky)
  • Player Archetype: Stretch Point Forward / Scoring Hub
  • Primary Offensive Role: Three-level scorer and primary half-court creator
  • Defensive Role: Team defender with rim protection and positional versatility
  • Play Style: Highly efficient scoring forward with elite shooting touch, operates in isolation, pick-and-pop, and mid-post creation while facilitating offense
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right-handed
  • Athletic Profile: Fluid mover with strong coordination and balance; not explosive but highly skilled and efficient
  • Recruiting Status: High-level recruit; originally committed to UConn before transferring
  • Draft Status Detail: 2013 WNBA Draft — 2nd overall pick by Chicago Sky
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — has dealt with chronic back issues and Lyme disease affecting availability
  • Career Stage: Late Career / Veteran Star
  • Comparison Style: Skilled oversized scorer with guard-like shooting and forward size
  • Comparable Players:
    • Dirk Nowitzki — elite shooting big with unguardable mid-post game
    • Kevin Durant — tall shot creator with perimeter scoring versatility
    • Breanna Stewart — modern two-way scoring forward with range
    • Lauren Jackson — dominant scoring forward with inside-out efficiency
  • Teams Played For:
    • Chicago Sky (2013–2016)
    • Washington Mystics (2017–present)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (2019 with the Washington Mystics)
  • Parents: Ernie Della Donne, Joanie Della Donne
  • Kids: None (as of 2024)
  • Siblings: 2 (an older brother, Gene Delle Donne, and an older sister, Lizzie Delle Donne, who has cerebral palsy and blindness)

Elena Della Donne’s player archetype is that of a stretch point forward who blends size with elite shooting and shot creation, making her one of the most efficient offensive engines in women’s basketball. Defensively, she operates as a positional team defender who can protect the rim in help situations while holding her own across multiple matchups. Offensively, she functions as a primary scoring hub, capable of scoring at all three levels while also facilitating through her gravity and decision-making. At 6’5” with guard-like skill and balance, she relies more on precision, footwork, and touch than raw explosiveness. Her overall play style is defined by efficiency, versatility, and matchup exploitation, allowing her to control games without needing high-volume usage.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — Elena Della Donne WNBA Stats
WNBA — Elena Della Donne Player Profile
ESPN — Elena Della Donne Stats, News, Bio