Elena Delle Donne averaged 21.5 points and 7 rebounds a game during the 2016 WNBA Season
The buzz started when earlier this offseason, Elena Delle Donne expressed that she wanted to play closer to her home in Delaware, and was prepared to sit out the 2017 season if the Chicago Sky couldn't make something happen. Then the buzz got even stronger when the Washington Mystics traded guard Bria Hartley and center Kia Vaughn to the New York Liberty in a three team deal involving the Seattle Storm, that saw the Liberty send 6-6 center Carolyn Swords to Seattle, while the Mystics receive the 6th pick in the upcoming 2017 WNBA Draft. The domino's were now in place for the Mystics to officially acquire Delle Donne, as they traded center Stefanie Dolson, wing Kahleah Copper and the 2nd pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft to the Chicago Sky. The three-time All-Star and 2015 WNBA MVP will join a Mystics team that finished 13-21 during the 2016 season after reaching the playoffs for three consecutive seasons (2013-2015).