Elena Delle Donne’s basketball career was as dazzling as it was challenging: two-time WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist. But behind the highlights lay a private battle with Lyme disease—a chronic condition she was first diagnosed with in 2008 and which recurred several times during her college and professional career. The illness forced her to miss significant time: during college, she sat out 18 games across three seasons; in the WNBA, Lyme symptoms sidelined her in 2014 and again later with the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics. Yet, far from letting it define her, Delle Donne has used her platform to shine a light on an often-overlooked disease.
Recognizing the power of her story, Delle Donne became the first national ambassador for the Lyme Research Alliance—speaking at schools, universities, and public forums to raise awareness and funding. In 2017, she established the Elena Delle Donne Foundation, supporting Lyme‑disease education, special‐needs programs, and inclusive sports initiatives. This advocacy is deeply personal: she grew up caring for her sister Lizzie, who lives with deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, and autism—experiences that shaped Elena’s compassion and fueled her determination to help others.
Her bravery and transparency changed the conversation around chronic illness in elite sports. Through speaking engagements, she reminds fans and fellow athletes alike that “good days and bad days” are part of living with Lyme—and that perseverance looks different for everyone. Now retired from professional play as of April 2025, Delle Donne continues to chart new paths off the court: serving as a special advisor to the Mystics’ ownership group, growing her woodworking business, and keeping her advocacy at the forefront. Her journey is a testament to turning personal adversity into collective empowerment—proving that sports figures can be powerful agents of change, even when the game shifts away from the spotlight.
