Delle Donne, Dickey meet in first WNBA game between former Blue Hens
NEWARK, Del. (BVM) – When the WNBA’s Dallas Wings visit the Washington Mystics for a game on May 13, expect the state of Delaware to be fully tuned in. Though the state doesn’t have its own team in the league, two standouts from the state’s biggest school, University of Delaware, will be playing against each other with Jasmine Dickey playing for the Wings while Elena Delle Donne represents the Mystics. This is the first time in the history of the Delaware women’s basketball program that two of their own will play each other in a WNBA contest.
For the first time ever, two former #BlueHens will compete against each other in a @WNBA game.
We're so excited for both @De11eDonne and @_JD20 and all that they have achieved! #proUD pic.twitter.com/rwNimpfJbi
— Delaware Blue Hens (@UDBlueHens) May 13, 2022
While the two are at different parts of their careers, with Delle Donne playing over 190 WNBA games since 2013 and Dickey playing in just her second WNBA game in the league after being drafted by the Wings in April, they are both united through their memorable play for the Blue Hens.
Delle Donne was the first to play for UD, playing from 2009-2013. During her time in Newark, Delle Donne was simply legendary. Along with leading the Blue Hens to back-to-back NCAA Tournament runs in 2012 and 2013, Delle Donne was named the 2013 Honda National Player of the Year and was also a three-time All-American and a three-time Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year. She set 45 University of Delaware records and finished as the No. 5 all-time leading scorer in NCAA history with 3,039 points. Over the course of her standout career, she averaged 26.7 points and 8.9 rebounds.
Delle Donne’s success followed her into the WNBA. The Wilmington native was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft and quickly established herself as a force, winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year. In eight seasons with the Chicago Sky and Washington Mystics, Delle Donne has been named a WNBA All-Star three times, a two-time league MVP, and All-WNBA first team and second team one time each in her career. In 2019, Delle Donne helped lead the Mystics to their first WNBA championship in franchise history, the same year she was named the league’s MVP.
While Dickey hasn’t quite reached the professional pedigree her fellow Blue Hen has, her collegiate success was similar. Dickey finished her UD career totaling 1,981 points, 1,038 rebounds, 213 steals, 192 assists, 82 steals and 48 double-doubles. A back-to-back CAA Player of the Year, Dickey ranked third in the NCAA with 25.3 points per game while also averaging 10.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals in her final year in the Gold & Blue last season. She also was able to lead the Blue Hens to their third CAA title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the first time since the Delle Donne-led 2013 squad.
In April, Dickey became just the third UD player selected in the WNBA Draft following Delle Donne and 2007 WNBA Draft pick Tyresa Smith. Dickey, who was selected with the No. 30 pick by the Wings, played in the team’s season opener where she played two minutes and registered a steal.
.@_JD20 is coming to a @WNBA arena near you 🏀 @UDBlueHens ➡️ @DallasWings I #WNBADraft pic.twitter.com/1vBHpUPvIJ
— Delaware Women’s Basketball (@DelawareWBB) April 12, 2022
Though Delaware may not have a WNBA team, expect University of Delaware basketball fans to have their eyes on the WNBA on May 13. Given the program history on display, Blue Hen nation will be proud regardless of which team comes out on top.
