Elena Delle Donne of The Mystics Punished for Criticizing WNBA Officials
Elena Delle Donne, a seasoned player with the Washington Mystics who battled in Sunday’s 80-74 loss to the Connecticut Sun, had a message for WNBA authorities. According to Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post, she received an unknown punishment for the remarks.
“I’m just going to say it.”
“I’m so sick of being treated like a rookie with calls. If I get fined, whatever. I’ve been through too many back surgeries to… I keep attacking, hoping that it’ll change. Hopefully, it’ll change next game, but there’s really nothing you can do in those moments.”
The two-time league MVP said.
Delle Donne finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks in the losing effort. The two-time MVP has also been assessed five personal fouls, which put him in foul trouble as the clock ticked down to the game’s final seconds.
For the Mystics on Sunday, Shakira Austin, just in her second WNBA season, scored a career-high 21 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. After being assessed four personal fouls, she nodded in agreement as Delle Donne criticized the officials.
Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones, two prominent Sun players, accrued five fouls. Although Delle Donne believes the authorities overlooked infractions committed against her, she won’t let it affect how she plays.
“I just keep attacking, in the end I hope that because I can elevate and jump over people, you can see that my arm is getting hit. I just keep attacking and hoping that it’ll change. Hopefully it’ll change next game, but there’s really nothing you can do in those moments. You just, when you see it. And thank goodness for Shakira [Austin], who stepped up and took over.”
The six-time All-Star has averaged 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game through three games. She averaged 17.2 points and 6.3 rebounds in the previous season. When she helped the team win a title, it was her first complete year since beginning to have a series of back ailments in 2019.
Her ten-year struggle with Lyme illness inspired the Nike signature sneaker that she debuted in October 2022.
In the Mystics’ next Tuesday game against the Sun, she led Washington with 27 points. The Sun won the rematch 88-81, and the Mystics’ performance wasn’t enough to give them the victory.
Delle Donne and the team will go for a victory when the Mystics go to the Chicago Sky on Friday.
