Delle Donne said she was "completely shocked" by her medical exemption being deniedNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The WNBA Washington Mystics announced that F Elena Delle Donne is "on the roster and will be paid her salary even if she does not play," according to Mechelle Voepel of ESPN.com. Because of the effects of Lyme disease on her immune system, Delle Donne was "anticipating receiving a medical exemption that guarantees players their full salaries if they are deemed high-risk regarding the potential impact of the coronavirus." On whether she thought her status as one of the most prominent players in the league had any effect on the denial of her request, Delle Donne said, "I'm not sure, and I really hope it didn't. I hope they would treat me as 'Player X,' and they see that I've been treated for something for nine years." Mystics coach & GM Mike Thibault "seemed somewhat perplexed as to why Delle Donne gave the impression that she had to choose between playing this season and not being paid." He said, "The Mystics organization will never put Elena's -- or any other of our players' -- health and well-being in jeopardy at any time." Delle Donne's agent, Octagon's Erin Kane, said that Delle Donne is "thankful" that Thibault and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Founder, Chair & CEO Ted Leonsis are "trying to do the right thing, and she thinks they want what's best for her." However, "figuring out the details while dealing with the disappointment of the medical panel's ruling has been challenging" (ESPN.com, 7/15).
WILL SHE PLAY OR NOT? Delle Donne yesterday said she was "completely shocked" by her medical exemption being denied. She said, "I didn't understand and now it's almost like I’m asked to ignore the one doctor that heard me and has been treating me and is enabling me to live a normal life.” She said it would take her a "couple days ... to decide what's next." Delle Donne: “This isn’t a decision I want to drag on and it’s not something I want my teammates to have to worry about, my organization. I want us to move on from this, but it's going to take a couple days for us to figure it out” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 7/15).
WADING INTO GRAY AREAS: ESPN's Jason Fitz said he would be "curious to see if other WNBA teams are willing" to pay the salaries "for lesser players that are also deemed not eligible." Fitz: "You could make the argument that the WNBA was trying to force her to play because of her status. You could also make the argument that the Washington Mystics did the right thing for her because of her status." ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic Jr.: “Extra sensitivity in a situation like this seemed to me to be the default setting, or should have been the default setting, knowing we’re trying to make sure we go into this as buttoned up as possible as a league” (“Golic & Wingo,” ESPN Radio, 7/16). ABC’s Janai Norman said Delle Donne’s “situation highlights how much players are risking their health and their lives for their livelihood” (“GMA,” ABC, 7/16).
