I was sitting on press row before UNC’s first-round game with Albany on Sunday, scouting out potential second-round opponents. No. 6 Delaware eventually defeated No. 11-seed West Virginia 66-53, and will play UNC if the Tar Heels can get past Albany.
As the game unfolded, one player, a lanky-but-coordinated woman who towered above the rest, caught my eye.
“Who’s that?” I asked Ryan Ginn, a reporter with the Newark Post who was seated next to me.
Below is what he told me:
Elena Delle Donne was the nation’s top recruit out of high school. As a 6-foot-5 hybrid who can shoot from long range, post up, rebound and shot-block, she’s expected to be one of the first players selected in this year’s WNBA draft after Brittney Griner. She finished Sunday’s game with 33 points. Delaware scored 66 in its win against the Mountaineers.