The USA Basketball Board of Directors unanimously approved Delle Donne to fill this position, and her resume shows why she’s the perfect fit. She has represented USA Basketball on multiple levels and won her first gold medal in 2011 at the World University Games. In addition to this, she earned a spot on the 2016 USA Women’s National Team and led them to another gold medal with an 8-0 record at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In 2018, she earned a World Cup title in Tenerife, Spain.
“USA Basketball was an important part of my on-court career for a decade and a half,” Delle Donne said in a statement. “To have the opportunity to continue my journey with the organization, and to help shape and grow the 3×3 program, is something that I take very seriously.”
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As the managing director, Delle Donne’s duties will involve selecting the USA 3×3 Women’s National Team coaching staff and players for upcoming competitions, which include the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, the FIBA 3×3 Champions Cup, the FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup and the FIBA 3×3 pro circuit. Her responsibilities will also cover the program’s training camp participants through 2028.
Before entering her new role, the former basketball player says she spent time around the people who built this 3×3 program to really immerse herself in the environment, and quickly fell in love with it.
“I loved the pace of it. I love how quickly you have to get going, how quickly you have to be able to forget about your last shot,” Delle Donne said in a media availability Sept. 16. “All those things were very exciting to me, and I think I would have truly loved playing it, but obviously I missed that time, so now its time to try to formulate strong teams and build our program.”
When it comes to building the 3×3 team, Delle Donne says she’s looking for a versatile player who can play at any position and has a very high motor.
“It is a fast-paced game with not much breakage, so being able to push through critique, still be able to think, still able to perform, and then someone with a high IQ,” she said. “It was shocking for me to see it when I was able to actually be in a head of tournament and watch how the coaches are not able to coach during the games. So the players are truly out there doing it. They have to know when to be savvy, when to take a take foul if they need a break, all those things.”
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Delle Donne’s immense knowledge of the game stems from her record-breaking collegiate career at the University of Delaware, where she set almost every school record, led the 2012 team to a 31-2 season and an NCAA Tournament appearance, and led the 2013 team to a 32-4 record and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16, according to Delaware.
Delle Donne emerged into the WNBA in 2013 when the Chicago Sky drafted her with the second overall pick of the WNBA Draft. During her time there, she was the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year, WNBA MVP in 2015, and a two-time All-WNBA First Team selection. In 2017, she was traded to the Washington Mystics, where she led an eager squad to win the 2019 WNBA Championships. She received her second MVP honor that season.
Delle Donne announced her retirement from the WNBA on April 4, 2025. After this, she stepped into the role as special advisor to Monumental Basketball, the parent company of the Mystics.
Although she has spent some time away from the game, the retired WNBA player isn’t opposed to getting on the court with the players to help get them 3×3 ready.
“I certainly plan to be on court with our athletes and help coach them up a little bit, or be a guard when I have to,” Delle Donne said.
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