WNBA Prospect Profile
(Photo courtesy of Delaware)
Elena Delle Donne - Delaware
Position:
Guard/Forward
Height:
6'5"
Birthdate:
09/05/89
Birthplace:
Wilmington, DE
High School:
Ursuline Academy
College Highlights
Led nation in scoring as a junior, ranked No. 2 as a senior. Closed career in stellar fashion, scoring 33 points in each of Delaware's three NCAA Tourney games; her 33 in Blue Hens' first-ever Sweet 16 game (vs. Kentucky) moved her past Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw, and Maya Moore into fifth place in NCAA history in career points (3,039). UD's first ever All-American (2011), earning such honors all four years while propelling to national prominence a program that previously had never won an NCAA postseason game or attained a top 25 ranking. Three-time Colonial Athletic Association POY (2011, '12, and '13); CAA career leader in points, blocks, FGs, and FTs; and three-year team co-captain. Set Delaware's career scoring record in just 63 games, 50 fewer than the previous record holder 2012-13: Led Blue Hens to a second straight CAA title and a school-record 32 wins, including won over North Carolina to reach NCAA Regional semifinals; earned second straight Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year honor for women's basketball. Entered campaign already as UD's career leader in points, FGs, 3-pt. FGs, and FTs made, FT percentage, and blocks. 2011-12: WBCA, John Wooden, AP, and USWBA First Team All-America; Nat'l POY finalist; Honda Inspiration Award winner; CAA Player of Year; First Team All-CAA and CAA All-Defensive Team. Led Div. I?with 28.1 ppg and FGs made; surpassed 20-pt. mark in all but 3 games. 2010-11: AP Hon. Mention All-America, First Team All-CAA; became the second fastest in NCAA history to 1,000 points (38 games); made UD-record 94.4% of FTs; avg'd 25.3 ppg despite missing 11 games due to Lyme disease. 2009-10: UD's first ever All-America pick (AP Third Team); one of 20 finalists for Wooden Award; CAA Player of the Year. 2008-09: After leaving UConn for UD, did not play basketball but was selected to the CAA All-Rookie Team in volleyball, leading squad in blocks as UD reached NCAA tourney. PREP/MISC: Won four state hoops titles, one volleyball crown; 2007-08 National POY (hoops) honors from Naismith and McDonald's foundations and USA Today. Worked with a personal coach since elementary school, focusing first on guard-type skills. Hails from a close family whose name, in Italian, means "of the women." Dad, Ernie, played basketball at Columbia; 6'7� brother Gene played football for Middle Tennessee State; older sister, Lizzie, was born deaf, blind and with cerebral palsy.
College Statistics
Delaware
Season G FGM FGA PCT FTM FTA PCT 3PM 3PA PCT REB AST STL BL PTS AVG
2009-10 29 257 539 .477 194 216 .898 66 160 .413 254 56 38 60 774 26.7
2010-11 22 177 422 .419 167 177 .944 36 103 .350 172 40 21 58 557 25.3
2011-12 33 325 325 .625 225 253 .889 52 126 .413 340 75 39 86 927 28.1
2012-13 30 271 557 .487 187 203 .921 52 115 .452 253 56 27 69 781 26.0
totals 114 1030 2143 .481 773 849 .910 206 504 .409 1019 227 125 273 3039 26.7