Introducing the Class of 2026 Beyond Basketball
The Berenson Trophy is given to each inductee, named after founder of women’s basketball Senda Berenson. The Beyond the Berenson series is designed to tell the stories of the members of the Class of 2026 outside of their extraordinary basketball accomplishments. The Class of 2026 features some of the greatest players, coaches, and contributors that women’s basketball has ever seen. Elena Delle Donne is one of them.
Elena Delle Donne: Redefining Success on Her Own Terms
Elena Delle Donne is the master of writing her own story. In a world where the media can put athletes into boxes, Delle Donne forged her own path and built an incredible story: one that started by playing basketball with an oven mitt as a guide hand, and culminated in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Delle Donne was launched into fame at a young age, receiving national attention at age 12 and garnering her first offer the summer after her seventh grade year. As a top national recruit, Delle Donne thought her future was a formality. The path seemed obvious. She would go play basketball at a top national program in the country (UConn or Tennessee), guide the team to several National Championships, and become National Player of the Year once, if not multiple times.
Instead, in the ultimate sign of strength, Delle Donne left UConn two days into summer school to return home and attend the University of Delaware. And she didn’t play basketball her freshman year either. Her return to hardwood first took place on the volleyball court. "I made some tough decisions early on in life to just follow my own path and do what felt right," says Delle Donne. What success meant to Delle Donne was always about more than championships.
The time on the volleyball court allowed Delle Donne to take control back of her own life and find her love of basketball again without pressure from outside influences. “I’m glad I had the courage to let it go and then come back,” Delle Donne reflects. “The most rewarding part of my career was coming back to it and knowing to give it up in order to find the passion again and fall back in love with it.”
Delle Donne continued to trust her own voice at the professional level. At what many considered the peak of her WNBA career, Delle Donne left the team that drafted her, the Chicago Sky, to return home once again and join the then-struggling but promising Washington Mystics. After two years with the team, Delle Donne brought DC its first championship in 2019, which she describes as the pinnacle of her career.
“I hope people take from my story that your life is yours and yours to live. It’s up to you to steer it where you want to and your mindset is really what makes each day great.”
Delle Donne is rooted in her family and the people who care for her, especially her older sister Lizzie, who was born blind, deaf, and with cerebral palsy and autism. “My sister has been my guiding light and my greatest role model,” Delle Donne expresses. Lizzie’s ability to exude joy and radiate a smile on her face reminds Delle Donne to find the good in each day, regardless of her performance on the court. “Find your wins in each day, because it’s all about the process,” Delle Donne describes as advice she’d give to young athletes. “We’re gonna have wins, we’re gonna have losses, but it’s the consistency of showing up each day and having the passion to show up each day.”
That passion on the court extends to Delle Donne’s woodworking business she co-owns with her wife Amanda. DelDon Designs constructs custom pieces and gives Delle Donne a creative outlet.
Delle Donne even attributes some of her on court success to her woodworking business. It gave something for Delle Donne to look forward to outside of practices and games. And, woodworking is a lot like basketball in a way. Nailing pieces of wood together is similar to building a championship team. Success comes from fitting every piece together with purpose and intention.
Now, Delle Donne is managing director of USA Women’s Basketball 3x3. She’s responsible for putting the pieces together to construct the ultimate team. “You can never do this alone, that’s why I love basketball. It’s a team sport,” Delle Donne affirms. The new role allows Delle Donne to apply the lessons she learned throughout her career about what makes a successful team. Her actions as managing director helps bring together a roster of players whose strengths complement one another to compete on the world stage.
Consistently defying expectations, Delle Donne carved a path that was uniquely her own. In doing so, she’s shown the world what another definition of success looks like. Delle Donne’s legacy is not confined as the story of another high school superstar turned NCAA and WNBA Champion. Rather, it is the story of the resilient competitor who fought back after injuries and burnout to become a champion and earn a spot in the Hall of Fame. Beyond the court, Delle Donne serves as a reminder for us to forge our own paths and create the life we desire. What an empowering message for the next generation.
Watch Elena’s full interview on our Youtube channel.
Written by Jadyn Zdanavage
