Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today that Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.) senior Elena Delle Donne has been named the 2008 State Farm/WBCA High School Player of the Year. The WBCA presents this award annually to the top players in each of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA and JC/CC) and high school.

"I am honored to present this year's State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year Award to Elena for her outstanding efforts on the court," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "I look forward to watching Elena compete on the next level and wish her much continued success."

Delle Donne is a four-year varsity letter-winner at Ursuline Academy, and she has led as a team captain each of the last three seasons. A 6'4" shooting guard, she is currently averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three steals this season, despite missing 10 games due to illness. On January 27, Delle Donne became the Delaware High School all-time leading scorer for both boys and girls' basketball with 2,475 points. She has also earned numerous all-American and Player of the Year honors throughout her career, and she is listed as Scout.Com Class of 2008's #1 Player in the Nation.

Delle Donne, who has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average, is also a member of the National Honor Society. The Greenville, Del., native is active off the court, contributing her time to various community service activities. She frequently visits sick children in the hospital, and every Christmas she sponsors a less fortunate child. In 2006, she worked with the Special Olympics.

"Ms. Delle Donne's remarkable achievements off the court are equally impressive as her achievements on the court," said Mark Gibson, assistant vice president of Advertising for State Farm. "State Farm is extremely proud and honored to recognize this tremendous student-athlete and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors."

Delle Donne has signed with the University of Connecticut where she will follow in the footsteps of last year's State Farm/WBCA High School Player of the Year, Maya Moore.

The State Farm/WBCA Player of the Year Award is selected by the eleven-member WBCA High School Player of the Year Committee, which consists of one WBCA-member coach from each of the nine WBCA high school districts, the present committee chair, and the past committee chair.

Delle Donne will be formally honored on Saturday, April 5, during the WBCA's High School All-America Game presented by Nike at the University of South Florida's Sun Dome in Tampa Bay, Fla., where she will also be competing in the WBCA's High School All-America Game presented by Nike. The game is part of the 2008 WBCA National Convention held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®.

About State Farm

State Farm ® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 72,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada. State Farm also offers financial services products through State Farm Bank ®. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 21 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca.

About the WBCA

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For additional information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.