New Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Elena Delle Donne was nearly moved to tears when highlighting the impact her sister, Lizzie, had on her life and career.
"Whenever I experienced my worst lows, burnout, injury, defeat (and) doubt, the lesson I needed was never on the court. It was at home, waiting for me - with my sister, Lizzie," Delle Donne said, voice quivering.
"For those of you who don't know, Lizzie is my big sister. She was born deaf and blind, has faced significant physical and developmental challenges throughout her life. She's never played in front of thousands of people. She's never had a standing ovation. She's never been interviewed after a big win. And yet I have never met anyone stronger."
Her strength. Her inspiration.
Her big sister 🧡 Elena Delle Donne shares a heartfelt tribute to her sister Lizzie and the strength she’s carried with her throughout her journey! pic.twitter.com/b6I0L0xDd9
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 16, 2026
Despite the many accolades that culminated in her Hall of Fame induction, Delle Donne has previously said her proudest accomplishment is being a sister to Lizzie, who also has cerebral palsy and autism. Being close to her older sister was Delle Donne's main motivation in leaving UConn to play at the University of Delaware, near her hometown, after a brief hiatus in college.
Delle Donne also said that once she learned she could play basketball at an early age, people would listen to her. She said she felt she needed to do something with her voice to inspire others. The WNBA legend explained that when she was younger, her friends were afraid of Lizzie. However, for Delle Donne, Lizzie was her "angel" and "guiding light."
"People need to see this. So I think from that age, seeing that, being like, we need to do more and get people with special needs out there and be a part of the Special Olympics, all those things. I hope I made Lizzie proud," Delle Donne said.
In her speech on Saturday, the Hall of Famer said she thought greatness looked like Hall of Fame ceremonies, awards and championships. Still, she said the bravest person she knows (her sister) has never experienced any of that.
"Lizzie changed the way I define greatness. She taught me that greatness isn't measured by applause. It's measured by courage, by joy, by showing up for another difficult day without asking, 'Why me?," Delle Donne said. "She taught me that some of life's greatest victories happen quietly. No cameras. No trophies. Just extraordinary strength hidden inside ordinary days."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elena Delle Donne honors sister in emotional Hall of Fame speech
