Delle Donne marks WNBA’s structural shift with Shooting Stars victory
Following Team Washington’s win at the inaugural Kia Shooting Stars competition, Elena Delle Donne highlights the impact of the new collective bargaining agreement and rising attendance figures.
Elena Delle Donne has used her return to the WNBA All-Star Weekend to underscore the league’s profound institutional transformation, contrasting the financial precarity of her rookie era with the current stability driven by a new collective bargaining agreement. The two-time MVP led Team Washington to victory in the inaugural Kia Shooting Stars competition at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena, defeating Team Seattle 31–24 in a contest that replaced the traditional Skills Challenge.
Delle Donne, who retired in 2023, played alongside current Washington Mystics centre Shakira Austin and high school prospect Jezelle "GG" Banks. The victory served as a tangible symbol of the league’s growth, with Banks, a former teammate of Delle Donne at Ursuline Academy, hitting the championship-clinching shot. Delle Donne described the trophy as the finest of her career, noting the significance of leading a team that represented the past, present, and future of the sport.
The context of the win highlights a stark divergence from the 2013–2015 period, when Delle Donne entered the league as the second overall draft pick. She recalled a time when no team averaged 10,000 fans per game, with some, such as the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2015, drawing fewer than 5,000. During those years, the league faced existential threats, with internal discussions focused solely on survival rather than expansion. Delle Donne noted that she chose to remain in the United States to build the domestic market, despite significant financial incentives to play overseas.
Current metrics indicate a substantial recovery in fan engagement and institutional health. Nine of the league’s 15 teams are now averaging at least 10,000 attendees per game, with three teams exceeding 15,000. The expansion to 15 teams, with three more planned, has been accompanied by increased salaries under the new collective bargaining agreement. The Golden State Valkyries have sold out every game, and the upcoming All-Star Game at the United Center is also sold out, a stark contrast to the sparse attendance Delle Donne experienced during her first All-Star appearance.
Shakira Austin, who played with Delle Donne from 2022 to 2023, described the collective bargaining agreement as "transformational." Austin emphasised that the current generation of players is continuing to advocate for better conditions, ensuring that the next wave of talent, including Banks, enters the league under improved terms. The event also featured Azzi Fudd becoming the first rookie to win the 3-Point Contest, further illustrating the depth of the league’s developing roster.
Delle Donne reflected on the sacrifices required to stabilise the league, stating that she trusted the process during periods of uncertainty. She expressed pride in the league’s trajectory, noting that the focus has shifted from mere survival to celebrating the sport’s success. The victory in Chicago, part of the league’s 30th-anniversary celebrations, underscores the structural changes that have allowed the WNBA to attract larger audiences and secure its financial footing.
As the All-Star Weekend concludes, the emphasis remains on the institutional progress achieved through collective action and strategic market development. Delle Donne’s commentary on the shift from low attendance and fears of folding to sold-out venues and expanded rosters provides a clear narrative of the league’s resilience. The ongoing fight for women in sports, as highlighted by Austin, continues to drive the agenda for future collective bargaining negotiations.
