Elena Delle Donne officially retired from the game of basketball on Friday.
In an Instagram post, she said, “One of my favorite children’s books asked, 'How did it get so late so soon?' 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.”
If you’re newer to women’s basketball, you likely didn't witness just how good Elena Delle Donne was before injuries robbed her of the ability to play at an MVP level again. So let’s take a trip down memory lane.
The Chicago Sky drafted Delle Donne with the second overall pick in 2013, joining a team that already had a ton of firepower. Sylvia Fowles was a defensive star. Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley made up the backcourt, and while Swin Cash was in the later years of her career, she still provided meaningful minutes. Delle Donne was the last piece of the puzzle.
That team went 24-10. Delle Donne won Rookie of the Year, while Fowles was named Defensive Player of the Year. Though the Tamika Catchings-led Fever swept the Sky out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Chicago, coached by Pokey Chatman, showed promise. For the next few years, the Sky were at the top of the league, and Delle Donne was a huge reason why. Chicago made it to the WNBA Finals in 2014 before losing to the Phoenix Mercury. In 2015, Delle Donne averaged 23.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and two blocks per game. She was named the MVP, but the Sky lost to the Fever again in the Eastern Conference semis.
Delle Donne had become a beloved part of the Chicago sports scene. She lived near Wrigley Field, and even named her Great Dane after the Cubs’ home field.
