Elena Delle Donne is showing major growth for the WNBA after a triumphant return at All-Star Weekend
CHICAGO — A lot has changed since Elena Delle Donne retired. The league has grown to 15 teams, with three more on the way, the new collective bargaining agreement has brought much higher salaries, and most important of all, the trophies are much bigger.
The two-time MVP and 2019 Mystics champion returned to the winner’s circle Friday after helping Team Washington earn the first Shooting Stars championship at All-Star Weekend in Chicago along with Shakira Austin and high school star Jezelle “GG” Banks.
“This is the best trophy I have received in my entire career,” Delle Donne joked. “This is good.”
Banks, who spent many years at Delle Donne’s former high school — Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Delaware — won the award for Friday’s tournament, which covered the league’s past, present and future as part of the WNBA’s 30th season celebration.
“I loved it. I hope the viewers loved it,” said Delle Donne. “To be able to lead the next generation and see our next stars come up, it’s going to be great if he’s on this path when he’s a WNBA All-Star.”
Banks led Team USA to a gold medal in the U18 AmeriCup earlier this year, and his performance on Friday was another reminder that the league is in good hands moving forward — thanks in large part to the dedication of the likes of Delle Donne, who was drafted No. 2 overall in 2013.
“I entered the league and decided to try to stay at home and sell myself. Going overseas, there was a lot of money to be made there, but I felt like we were losing the market and people would forget about the WNBA at the beginning of the season,” said Delle Donne.
“When I came in as a rookie, I wanted to try my best to be sold, get a signed shoe, do all those things. There were many times when it was like, ‘This is difficult, I don’t know if this is going to happen,'” Delle Donne continued. “You just keep your head down, keep working and trust the program. I’m proud of where this league is and where it will continue to go.”
From 2013-15, neither team drew 10,000 fans per game. During that same period, many teams averaged fewer than 6,000 fans, including the 2015 San Antonio Silver Stars, which drew just 4,800 a night.
“We were told that you need to do this or this league will collapse. There was never any talk of growth or anything. It was like we have to do everything we can to keep this going,” said Delle Donne. “I’m very happy that the transformation is over and everyone can see how good this game is and where it’s going.”
Fast forward to this season, and nine of the league’s 15 teams are averaging at least 10,000 fans, three are over 15,000 per game and the Golden State Valkyries have sold out every game.
Nothing highlights how far the league has come like All-Star Weekend. Team Washington won the Shooting Stars and Azzi Fudd won the 3-Point Contest in front of a packed house at Wintrust Arena, just down the road from WNBA Live, a three-day interactive fan experience. Come Saturday, the All-Star Game will take place at the sold-out United Center, which holds more than 20,000 people.
“My first time [All-Star Game]it was almost like taking the initiative to go check out and go,” said Delle Donne. “Now it’s the whole weekend and everyone is celebrated the way they should be celebrated.”
That includes Delle Donne, one of the league’s top talents. Lyme disease and a back injury limited him to 241 games in 10 seasons and forced him to retire at age 33, but he still inspires the next generation — on and off the court.
Austin, who played with Delle Donne in Washington from 2022-23, said having the opportunity to take over again was “a great moment” and brought things “full circle.” Now, he wants to leave the league in a better place for Banks, just like Delle Donne did for him.
“That CBA was a game-changer,” Austin said. “At the end of the day, it’s about continuing to pave the way and continuing to strive for more. I don’t think we’re done. [Banks] enters the WNBA, there will be another life-changing CBA.
“Every day we try to continue fighting for women in sports and show that we have everything we need to succeed. We have to give it a chance.”
