Elena Delle Donne Takes Helm of USA Women’s 3x3 Team as Managing Director
Former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne has stepped into a new leadership role, being named the first managing director of the USA Women’s 3x3 National Team. Since retiring earlier this year, Delle Donne has moved from playing to shaping strategy—tasked with picking players, setting up coaching staff, and guiding the women’s 3x3 program toward international success, including the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
From Star Player to Strategic Leader
Elena Delle Donne’s basketball legacy is well-known: two WNBA MVP awards, a championship with the Washington Mystics, Olympic gold, numerous All-Star nods, and a reputation as one of the most efficient shooters in league history. After officially retiring earlier in 2025 (having not played since 2023 due to health concerns), she’s now rejoining USA Basketball from the front office—shifting from executing plays to constructing teams.
This is her first major leadership appointment post-playing, and it puts her in a pivotal role at a time when 3x3 basketball is growing rapidly in international prestige. USA Basketball has entrusted her unanimously with this new post, which signals both respect for her legacy and confidence in her capacity to help steer the next generation.
The Role: What Delle Donne Will Oversee
Delle Donne’s responsibilities are wide:
Identifying and selecting coaching staff for USA Women’s 3x3 competitions, including World Cups, AmeriCups, and the Olympics.
Choosing player rosters, not only for high-profile tournaments, but for training camps and pro-circuit events that contribute to international rankings.
Supporting the development and growth of the 3x3 women’s program, likely involving talent scouting, helping establish training systems, and sharpening USA’s competitive edge vs. other nations.
Her immediate high-stakes horizon includes the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the USA women’s 3x3 squad will aim for another gold, building on past Olympic performances.
The Context: 3x3 Basketball’s Rising Importance
3x3 basketball became an official Olympic event in 2020 and has quickly become a major component of USA Basketball’s international strategy. The women’s team won gold in Tokyo, continued to compete strongly worldwide, but saw a drop to bronze in Paris 2024. That recent bronze shows that even dominant programs need new vision, adaptation, and strategy to keep up.
USA Basketball has already been placing former players in key leadership roles—Grant Hill for the men’s national team, Jimmer Fredette for men’s 3x3, Sue Bird for the women’s 5x5, and now Delle Donne for women’s 3x3. This pattern suggests a strategy: leverage the experience of decorated players, not just on the court but in planning, personnel decisions, and program direction.
Why Delle Donne Is a Natural Fit
Her credentials are strong. As a player, she combined scoring, shooting accuracy (including being the first WNBA player to achieve a 50-40-90 shooting season), versatility, and leadership. Health issues may have ended her playing days, but they haven't diminished her basketball IQ or her passion for USA Basketball.
Her respect among peers, experience in international competitions, and reputation off the court give her credibility as someone who can attract, mentor, and organize high-performing talent. She knows what it takes—both physically and mentally—to compete at the highest level.
Building the roster: deciding which players to bring into 3x3, possibly discovering new ones who specialize in that format.
Coaching structures: setting up the right staff, training programs, and support systems for 3x3, which has different dynamics (speed, spacing, rotation) than 5x5.
International competition: closing the gap with nations that are also investing heavily in 3x3; ensuring USA remains competitive for podium finishes.
Olympic pressure: with LA 2028 on the horizon, expectations will be high—both from fans and USA Basketball. Ensuring consistent, strong performance in lead-up events is essential.
What This Means for Women’s Basketball and USA Basketball Culture
Delle Donne’s move represents more than just one hire. It’s a signal that leadership is being reinvigorated with voices who have direct experience, who can empathize with players’ journeys, and who understand what modern women’s basketball needs. Her appointment may inspire more former players to move into leadership, coaching, or administrative roles.
Also, this underscores the rising profile of 3x3 basketball, especially for women. As formats diversify and global interest grows, having a strong program could impact funding, youth participation, and visibility of women’s basketball broadly.
The appointment of Elena Delle Donne as managing director of USA Women’s 3x3 National Team marks a new phase—not the end of her basketball identity, but a redefinition of how she shapes the game. Her responsibilities are significant, the expectations high, but her background, passion, and track record suggest she’s ready to help the U.S. reclaim the top step in 3x3 women’s hoops.
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