Former University of Delaware star Elena Delle Donne is headed to the Summer Olympics in Rio this August.
The 12-player roster for the U.S. women’s basketball team was announced this morning and Delle Donne, a graduate of Wilmington’s Ursuline Academy, earned a spot. This will be her first trip to the Olympics.
"It’s so hard to even put it into words. When Carol (Callan of USA Basketball) told me, it was emotional," Delle Donne told USA BAsketball in an interview. "Just to think this entire basketball journey I’ve been on has been absolutely incredible, but this has been by far the pinnacle of my career and the best news I’ve ever heard. It’s absolutely a dream come true. I’ve just been soaking it up today and it’s amazing and a humbling experience as well, with how special and talented this pool of players is."
The 26-year-old Delle Donne is the reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player after posting league-best 23-point-4 points per game last season for the Chicago Sky. Delle Donne and the Sky will play an exhibition game against the new York Liberty Sunday at UD’s Bob Carpenter Center Sunday at 2 pm
The United States will be seeking a sixth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball at the Summer Games in Rio.
