MIES (Switzerland) - When Elena Delle Donne stepped away from her playing career, she knew she wasn’t finished with basketball. She already had a résumé already shimmering with WNBA MVPs, an Olympic gold medal and a championship. What she didn’t expect was that her next great chapter would begin courtside at a 3x3 event in Edmonton. The moment she saw the pace, the personality and the atmosphere of the game, she felt something unmistakable: this was where she belonged.
Today, as the first Managing Director of the USA Women’s 3x3 National Team, Delle Donne is no longer leading through a perfect shooting stroke or late-game heroics. She is leading through culture, mentorship and vision. Delle Donne is helping build a future where more women can experience the joy, challenge, and opportunity that basketball gave her.
A New Chapter Rooted in Purpose
Retirement gave Delle Donne space to be intentional. She knew she wanted to stay in basketball, but only in a role that aligned with her values. USA Basketball had always represented excellence and integrity in her life. 3x3, though, opened a new door entirely.
"Coming into retirement, I wanted to be very specific on where I was going to head next," she said. "My experience with USA Basketball has always been phenomenal... but I hadn’t gotten to see the 3x3 side of things. When I finally did, I was so locked in."
Edmonton sealed it. The energy reminded her of watching beach volleyball during the Olympics — loud, vibrant, intimate, and alive. "That’s when I knew I wanted to be a part of it," she recalled.
From that moment, she stopped wondering what’s next? and instead asked: How big can this be?
Building a Pipeline, Not Just a Team
Delle Donne’s approach is not short-term. Her North Star is clear -- she wants to bring Olympic gold back to the USA in 2028.
To get there, though, she knows the player pool must grow and evolve.
You can’t just play it once and show back up at the Olympics. Other teams play it all year and are phenomenal at it. We need our players to get those reps, that experience, that comfort.
Her vision stretches from the grassroots to the pros. She believes that kids learning basketball should start with 3x3.
"You can’t hide," she said. "You learn every position, every skill. That’s how young players should begin playing the game."
She also believes that college athletes should have access to 3x3 pathways, so they can build rhythm, instincts and versatility. In addition, Delle Donne believes that pros should play repeatedly, not occasionally. For her, familiarity can no longer be optional. It must be constant.
She wants to build a true pipeline, not a patchwork.
A Culture of Care and Connection
For all her accolades and ambition, Delle Donne’s leadership has always been anchored on empathy. She understands pain, pressure and expectations at the highest level. Now, she brings that awareness into every interaction with her players. Not surprisingly, the culture she’s building is rooted in family, wellbeing and selflessness.
"Once they play with us, they’re in this family forever," she explained. "When you put that uniform on, you compete for the person next to you."
Having endured injuries and setbacks herself, Delle Donne now gifts her athletes what she wishes she’d had earlier: knowledge, structure and long-term care.
"I’m going to give them my playbook for all of that," she said, rooting a promise forged through lived experience.
A New Identity for USA Women’s 3x3
If there’s one message Delle Donne wants the world to remember, it’s this: "We’re a force, and we’re only going to get better."
The identity she envisions for USA Women’s 3x3 is clear: physical, versatile, selfless and tough.
They will play with joy, but they will also make you feel them. They will compete with edge, but also with empathy. Above all, they will represent something larger than themselves.
A Leader Focused on People Above All
Even as she builds systems, strategies and standards, the part that excites Delle Donne most is deeply human.
"I’m most excited to grow our player pool and get to know these players on a different level," she said. "I care about the humans and helping them grow along their journey."
In true Elena fashion, she also embraces the joy of discovery, whether these are new places, new cultures, and experiences she continues to savor. Basketball gave her the world; now she wants to share that with others.
"I’ve always believed in being well-rounded, not just having your single identity in basketball," she said. "Even when we’re traveling, I want players to experience the culture, meet people, try new things."
A Legacy Beyond Her Playing Days
Elena Delle Donne doesn’t need to prove anything anymore. Her greatness is established. Her reputation is permanent. Her impact is already generational.
That said, this new chapter, this new mission. It all hits different.
It’s not about scoring. It’s not about MVPs. It’s not even about medals.
It’s about building a pathway so that the next era of young women can find their own greatness in the sport she loves and in a version of the game that is growing faster than ever.
She is not just passing the torch.
She is building the runway.
And USA Women’s 3x3 is taking off.
FIBA