Elena Delle Donne, one of the sport’s most hyped prospects in years, has an interesting story behind her. Only two days into her freshman year at the University of Connecticut, Delle Donne left in the middle of the night and returned to her family’s home in Wilmington, Del. She said publicly that she was burned out from basketball, but she knew she was mostly homesick. Delle Donne transferred to Delaware and played volleyball for the Blue Hens during the fall. Six months later she sent a text message to Delaware women’s basketball coach, Tina Martin saying "Will you open the gym?" This text message was the first outward sign that her passion for basketball never left. At the moment, Delaware was 30-1 and a No. 3 seed in the N.C.A.A. tournament. Tina Martin knew she had to hurry to the empty gym and unlock it before Delle Donne changed her mind. Over the next three months, Delle Donne had frequent late-night basketball workouts that were kept secret. Sometimes she waited in her car to make sure all the Delaware players had left the Bob Carpenter Center. She did not want to ignite rumors or invite pressure to decide her future. That spring, Delle Donne decided she would play basketball for Delaware during the 2009-10 season. Now a junior, she is the nation’s leading scorer, averaging 27.5 points a game and she has turned the Blue Hens into a national power.
Source (NY Times)
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