Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Elena Delle Donne announced her retirement on Friday.
The 35-year-old forward did not play during the 2024 season following multiple back surgeries.
Posting on Instagram, Delle Donne called her decision “the right thing for me at the right time.”
“One of my favorite children’s books asked, ‘How did it get so late so soon?'” Delle Donne wrote. “I have asked myself that over and over again in the process of coming to the decision to retire from playing basketball. Being able to say that out loud was one of the hardest parts of my career. My body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it but I now truly know this is the right thing for me at the right time.”
A seven-time All-Star, Delle Donne won 2013 Rookie of the Year and 2015 MVP honors with the Chicago Sky. She won her second MVP and her lone WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019.
She averaged 19.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 241 career games (234 starts) with the Sky (2013-16) and Mystics (2017-19, 2021-23). She did not play during the COVID-19 bubble season in 2020 and was limited to three games in 2021 because of back problems.
Delle Donne is the league’s career leader in free-throw shooting at 93.7 percent.
“Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am to my family, all of my incredible teammates, friends, executives, sponsors, staff and most importantly the amazing fans that have accompanied me on this journey,” she wrote. “This game has been my life and I am grateful for the memories and how much it’s given me. It feels good to close this chapter knowing I gave it my all and I can’t wait for what’s next!”
She will serve as an adviser to Monumental Basketball, an arm of franchise owner Monumental Sports & Entertainment.
–Field Level Media
