Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Delle Donne brings fans out in the First State again

First State hoop fans welcomed newly minted Olympian Elena Delle Donne back to Delaware again Sunday.

For a third straight year, Delle Donne and the WBNA’s Chicago Sky played an exhibition game at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center.

And the enthusiasm for the visit hasn’t waned.  Over 3,400 fans showed up to watch Delle Donne, the reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player, led the Sky to a dominating  93-59 win over New York Liberty.

The former UD and Ursuline Academy star didn't disappoint, scoring a team-high 17 points despite playing just 14 minutes.

Delle Donne says the chance to play before a hometown crowd never gets old for her. 

"It’s something for me the entire game.  It’s just such a home court for me.  There’s no court that feels more like home than this court.  I’ve been playing on it since 8th grade," said Delle Donne. "So, to be here and seeing so many familiar faces in the crowd – I’m very aware of it the entire time (I’m playing)."

Delle Donne grabbed a microphone after the game and thanked the crowd for once again providing a playoff-like atmosphere at a preseason tune-up - closing with “How about we do it again next year?”

She says it’s remarkable how her home state continues to offer such overwhelming support for her career.

"It is surprising - especially because they know after coming a couple times that I don’t play that many minutes.  For them to come just to watch maybe 15 minutes of play, and then support our team is really special,"  saidf Delle Donne "It’s incredible that they keep coming back to support me and my teammates.

The First State’s love for Delle Donne is not lost on her Chicago teammates, including rookie Imani Boyette,  whose first game playing with Delle Donne was Sunday’s exhibition.

"It’s crazy to have such a following.  Her following is so amazing.  Her fans are so great,  They embraced me and I’m nobody," said Boyette.

Delle Donne says she’s ready to start the new WNBA season and expects it will help prepare her for her first ever trip to the Olympics this summer. 

Delle Donne was named to the U.S. Women’s Olympic basketball team last week  -- and will be one of the 12 players trying bring home a 6th straight Olympic gold medal from Rio this summer.

Fellow First State high school product Betnijah Laney joined Delle Donne on the floor yesterday for the Sky.  The Smyrna High grad posted 6 points and 7 rebounds for Chicago

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.