Elena Delle Donne and Chamique Holdsclaw are headed to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, adding two more legendary chapters to the Washington Mystics’ history.
Delle Donne, a two-time WNBA MVP (2015, 2019), played a central role in delivering the Mystics’ first championship in 2019 and established herself as one of the most dominant and efficient scorers the league has ever seen. A seven-time All-Star, four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, and 2013 Rookie of the Year, she was also named to the WNBA’s 25th Anniversary Team in 2021. Before her professional career, she starred at the University of Delaware as a two-time First-Team All-American and later won Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2016 Games in Rio.
Holdsclaw, one of the most influential pioneers in women’s basketball, was the first overall pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft after leading Tennessee to three straight national championships. A six-time All-Star and the 1999 Rookie of the Year, she averaged 16.9 points and 7.6 rebounds over an 11-year WNBA career that included a foundational run with the Mystics from 1999 to 2004. She was also the league’s scoring champion in 2002 and an Olympic gold medalist in 2000. Holdsclaw’s impact on the sport extended beyond her playing career, as she helped elevate the visibility and respect of women’s basketball during its early professional years.
Together, the two represent different eras of the Mystics, from Holdsclaw helping establish the franchise’s identity to Delle Donne leading it to its first title.
