University of Delaware Athletics
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Women’s Basketball Alumna Elena Delle Donne to be Inducted into Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame
8/11/2026 2:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – University of Delaware women's basketball alumna Elena Delle Donne will be inducted into the Washington DC Sports Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026, the DC Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced.
This year's class of honorees includes Delle Donne, W.T. Woodson High School and Duke University alumnus Tommy Amaker, four-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXIV Champion and member of the Washington Commanders London Fletcher, George Washington University softball star and Olympic gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, and legendary Maryland high school football coach Al Thomas. The 2001-02 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions from the University of Maryland will be recognized as this year's Team of Distinction.
The Wilmington, Delaware native is one of the most recognized and accomplished student-athletes in the history of the Fightin' Blue Hens. She followed her record-breaking performance at UD with an impressive career as a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, WNBA superstar, author, spokesperson, and role model.
The 2013 Delaware graduate enjoyed an incredible four seasons on the hardwood from 2009-13. She set nearly every school record, led the 2013 team to a 32-4 record, a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, and paced the 2012 squad to a 31-2 mark and another NCAA Tournament run.
The 2013 Honda National Player of the Year, she also was a three-time All-American, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, set 45 school records, established numerous CAA marks, and finished as the No. 5 all-time leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,039 points. She still ranks ninth all-time in the NCAA in scoring. She averaged an incredible 26.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for her career.
An outstanding scholar-athlete, she was a two-time Capital One National Academic All-American of the Year and a two-time CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Delle Donne was drafted by the Chicago Sky with the second overall pick of the 2013 WNBA Draft. With Chicago, she was the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2015 WNBA MVP and a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection before being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017. Delle Donne went on to win the 2019 WNBA title, while adding a second MVP honor that season and two more All-WNBA First Team nods. The seven-time WNBA All-Star was selected to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Delle Donne announced her retirement from professional basketball on April 4, 2025. She currently serves as special advisor to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Mystics as well as the first managing director of the USA 3x3 Women's National Team.
Earlier this year, Delle Donne was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and is set to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
The formal induction ceremony will be held at Nationals Park on Sunday, Aug. 30, prior to the Washington Nationals game against the Miami Marlins. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m., followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m. The names of all DC Sports Hall of Fame inductees are prominently displayed at Nationals Park.
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This year's class of honorees includes Delle Donne, W.T. Woodson High School and Duke University alumnus Tommy Amaker, four-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXIV Champion and member of the Washington Commanders London Fletcher, George Washington University softball star and Olympic gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, and legendary Maryland high school football coach Al Thomas. The 2001-02 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champions from the University of Maryland will be recognized as this year's Team of Distinction.
The Wilmington, Delaware native is one of the most recognized and accomplished student-athletes in the history of the Fightin' Blue Hens. She followed her record-breaking performance at UD with an impressive career as a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, WNBA superstar, author, spokesperson, and role model.
The 2013 Delaware graduate enjoyed an incredible four seasons on the hardwood from 2009-13. She set nearly every school record, led the 2013 team to a 32-4 record, a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, and paced the 2012 squad to a 31-2 mark and another NCAA Tournament run.
The 2013 Honda National Player of the Year, she also was a three-time All-American, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year, set 45 school records, established numerous CAA marks, and finished as the No. 5 all-time leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,039 points. She still ranks ninth all-time in the NCAA in scoring. She averaged an incredible 26.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game for her career.
An outstanding scholar-athlete, she was a two-time Capital One National Academic All-American of the Year and a two-time CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Delle Donne was drafted by the Chicago Sky with the second overall pick of the 2013 WNBA Draft. With Chicago, she was the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2015 WNBA MVP and a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection before being traded to the Washington Mystics in 2017. Delle Donne went on to win the 2019 WNBA title, while adding a second MVP honor that season and two more All-WNBA First Team nods. The seven-time WNBA All-Star was selected to the WNBA 25th Anniversary Team in 2021.
Delle Donne announced her retirement from professional basketball on April 4, 2025. She currently serves as special advisor to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Mystics as well as the first managing director of the USA 3x3 Women's National Team.
Earlier this year, Delle Donne was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and is set to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this weekend.
The formal induction ceremony will be held at Nationals Park on Sunday, Aug. 30, prior to the Washington Nationals game against the Miami Marlins. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:00 a.m., followed by the game's first pitch at 12:15 p.m. The names of all DC Sports Hall of Fame inductees are prominently displayed at Nationals Park.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware women's basketball, follow the Fightin' Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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