WNBA star "risking life" after league refused medical exemption
One of the biggest stars in women's basketball has been given the choice of playing this season knowing her life is at constant risk or walking away from the sport after being refused a medical exemption by the WNBA.
Elena Delle Donne was the league's Most Valuable Player last season, having helped the Washington Mystics win the title. She suffers from Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome - with symptoms such as constant fatigue and joint inflammation - and is particularly vulnerable to infections which attack her weakened immune system, including COVID-19.
Delle Donne revealed in an extremely powerful open letter published in The Players' Tribune she has to follow a punishing treatment regime in order to compete as an elite athlete.
"I take 64 pills a day, and I feel like it’s slowly killing me. Or if it’s not killing me, directly, then I at least know one thing for sure: It’s really bad for me. It’s a never-ending, exhausting, miserable cycle. But I do it anyway.
"Taking 64 pills a day is the only way to keep my condition under any sort of control. It’s the only way to keep myself healthy enough to play the game that I love — healthy enough to do my job and earn the paycheck that supports my family. Healthy enough to live something approaching a normal life."
The WNBA is planning to play its entire season behind closed doors to counter the threat of coronavirus, with bio-secure venues and teams staying in bubbles. But it admits there remains a risk from coronavirus and vulnerable players could apply for a medical exemption. Delle Donne's application was rejected.
"When the league began reviewing players’ cases to see who should be granted a health exemption from the bubble (meaning the league excuses you from playing, but you don’t have to give up your salary), I didn’t even think it was a question whether I would be exempt or not. I didn’t need a panel of league doctors to tell me that my immune system was high-risk — I’ve played my entire career with an immune system that’s high-risk!!!
"The doctor who treats my Lyme disease wrote up a full report, detailing my medical history and confirming my high-risk status. The Mystics team doctor wrote a report essentially deferring to my Lyme disease doctor, and agreeing about my high risk profile. I filed both reports to the league, as required, along with a signed form waiving my right to an appeal.
"A few days later, the league’s panel of doctors — without ever once speaking to me or to either of my doctors — informed me that they were denying my request for a health exemption. I’m now left with two choices: I can either risk my life… or forfeit my paycheck."
The star has yet to decide whether to play this season but admits to being hurt and scared by the league's decision. The WNBA is yet to respond.
