For much of Elena Delle Donne’s remarkable basketball career, the spotlight followed her dominance on the court. But during her Hall of Fame speech, the WNBA legend turned that attention toward someone who has been a deeply important part of her life.
Delle Donne became emotional as she reflected on her sister and the extraordinary strength she has shown throughout her life.
The heartfelt tribute offered a deeply personal glimpse into the bond between the two sisters and why this moment meant far more to Delle Donne than any other basketball honor.
Elena Delle Donne Gets Emotional, Honors Deaf and Blind Sister With Powerful Hall of Fame Tribute
Delle Donne’s connection with her sister, Lizzie, helped shape her basketball journey long before she became a WNBA superstar.
In 2008, the highly touted 6-foot-5 prospect lasted only about 48 hours at UConn under legendary coach Geno Auriemma before leaving Storrs and returning home to Delaware. The decision came down to family. Delle Donne wanted to be closer to Lizzie.
During her Hall of Fame speech on Saturday, she described leaving her sister as “a pain that I couldn’t describe, and just couldn’t do.”
The decision could have changed the course of her career. Instead, it brought her closer to home and eventually helped her become one of the most dominant players in women’s basketball.
But as impressive as her résumé became, Delle Donne made it clear that basketball was never the whole story.
“Whenever I experienced my worst lows, burnout, injury, defeat, doubt, the lesson I needed was never on the court,” Delle Donne said while barely able to hold her emotions in check.
“It was at home, waiting for me…with my sister, Lizzie. For those of you who don’t know, Lizzie is my big sister. She was born deaf and blind, has faced significant physical and developmental challenges throughout her life.”
“She’s never played in front of thousands of people; she’s never had a standing ovation; she’s never been interviewed after a big win. And yet I have never met anyone stronger.”
It was a striking reminder that while thousands watched Delle Donne conquer basketball courts around the world, her biggest source of perspective was waiting for her at home.
At Delaware, Delle Donne wasted little time reminding everyone why she had been so highly regarded. Across four seasons, she averaged 26.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
The WNBA soon came calling. The Chicago Sky selected her No. 2 overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft, giving Delle Donne her chance to take her game to the professional level.
She needed only three seasons to make her mark, winning her first WNBA MVP award. She added another MVP in 2019 and, that same year, captured the only WNBA championship of her career with the Washington Mystics.
The MVPs, championships, and standing ovations made Delle Donne a Hall of Famer. But in her most emotional moment, she made sure everyone knew who helped make the journey worth it.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.