Elena Delle Donne, a two-time WNBA MVP and Olympic gold medalist, is celebrated for her basketball dominance and commitment to fitness. Recently, she shared a playful Instagram video of herself lip-synching “What Is This Feeling” from the Wicked movie, showcasing her fun side. Off the court, Delle Donne focuses on maintaining a balanced diet, building endurance, and staying consistent with her health routines—key elements that help her excel both as an athlete and in managing her Lyme disease.
She Eats A Lot of Protein & Carbs
Donne shared her approach to eating in an interview with Stack. “Definitely a lot of protein and good carbs, so foods like chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, etc. Whatever the meal is, it has to be packed with nutrients to fuel me for my game. For dinner, one of my favorite dishes is chicken with sautéed onions, mashed sweet potatoes, and veggies.”
She Consistently Eats Healthy
Donne tells Stack that consistency is a big part of her diet. “It’s a struggle because your schedule is so packed that you just want to turn to what’s quickest and most convenient. However, I always remind myself that my diet is important not only for my basketball career, but also for my health in managing my Lyme disease. So it’s really important to try and stay true to my nutrition plan. At this point, I’m used to playing in different cities, so I’ve found my go-to spots in each city where I know I’ll be able to find a great meal.”
She Believes In Moderation
Donne tells Stack that she believes in moderation and a balanced diet. “I would just recommend making sure you do your research and find out what works best for your body, because it’s different for everyone,” she says. “The key is having a well-rounded nutrition plan that includes a little bit of everything. Also know that no one is perfect, so you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. It’s OK to indulge every now and then or have cheat meals, just focus on getting back on track afterwards.”
She Uses A Food App
Donne revealed to Stack that she uses an app to help her find healthy options when she travels. “It makes it way easier to eat while I’m on the road. In the offseason, I follow a modified Keto diet, so being able to enter my dietary restrictions and instantly being provided options of meals I can order at different restaurants saves me so much time.”
She Improved Her Endurance
Donne talked about what she had to work on to improve her basketball skills with ESPN. “When I first got to the WNBA, I felt like throughout a game I was losing my endurance. I wasn't performing nearly as well in the third and fourth quarter as I was in the first half. So I got a new strength coach back in Delaware, and we really worked on core stability and endurance, doing circuit training. People wrote that I put on 12 pounds of muscle. That might have been a bit of an exaggeration. But I definitely put on muscle and lost body fat.”
