Elena Delle Donne WNBA Draft: 5 Things To Know About The No. 2 Pick In The 2013 WNBA Draft

Founded in 1996, the WNBA has been a successful league right from the beginning.

With star players making their way to greatness including former Los Angeles Sparks great Lisa Leslie, 1997 league MVP Cynthia Cooper and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Rebecca Lobo, the league set itself up for continued success early on.

The talent pool in the league got much deeper following the 2013 WNBA Draft. The top overall selection in the draft went to the Phoenix Mercury who promptly selected Brittney Griner, a 6-foot-8-inch megastar from Baylor University. Griner was a high school McDonald's All-American before becoming a National Champion and scoring machine at Baylor.

University of Notre Dame stud Skylar Diggins was taken by the Tulsa Scock with the third overall pick in the draft. As SB Nation reports, Diggins is the only player in Irish history to eclipse 2,000-point plateau while totaling over 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 300 steals in her wonderful career in a Fightin' Irish uniform.

Sandwiched between Griner and Diggins in the draft was fan favorite and former University of Delaware standout Elena Delle Donne. Fifth all-time in NCAA scoring history with over 3,000 points, Delle Donne will instantaneously help turn the Chicago Sky a force into WNBA contenders.

With a brief introduction to the top three players selected in the 2013 WNBA Draft, here's a closer look at the No. 2 overall selection Elena Delle Donne and five things you may not have known about this phenomenal athlete.

5. Considered a One-of-a-kind player according to one WNBA Head Coach

It was no secret Elena Delle Donne was going to be selected toward the beginning of the 2013 WNBA Draft. According to the South Bend Tribune in Indiana, Delle Donne is already considered to be in a class of her own.

"We haven't seen a player like her come into our league," Tulsa Shock head coach Gary Kloppenburg told the Tribune. "I guess the comparison is to Lauren Jackson, but in a way she's got a greater skill set than even Lauren with her ability to put the ball on the floor."

Lauren Jackson has been a lethal scorer for the Seattle Storm since 2001 so for Kloppenburg to compare Delle Donne to the future Hall of Famer is a true compliment. Already receiving high praise, Elene Delle Donne is on track for one heck of a pro career.

4. Set a National Record for free throws made in 2006

One of the best personal achievements for Delle Donne came during the 2005-2006 season while playing for Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, Del. At one point during the 2005-2006 campaign, Delle Donne connected on 80-consecutive free throws, a national record in girls high school hoops. Her free throw success continued in college as she converted 91 percent of her free throw attempts, burying 586 of an attempted 646. Expect that trend to follow her to Chicago.

3. Majored in Human Services at the University of Delaware

When not on the basketball court, Elena Delle Donne studied in the area of Human Services at the University of Delaware. Human Services according to the university website teaches students how to provide direct services that can make a broad difference in communities and public policy upon their graduation. Providing service to others is something that comes naturally to a person like Elena Delle Donne, just see fact No. 5 on our list. She'll certainly provide a service to her Chicago Sky teammates for years to come on the basketball court as well!

2. Selected to ESPN All-Decade Girls Basketball Second Five Team

One of the biggest recruits upon graduating high school, Elena Delle Donne was named to the ESPN All-Decade Girls Second Team. Guiding her high school squad to three-consecutive state titles and lighting up scoreboards at every gym she traveled to, Delle Donne was an easy selection into a group that includes basketball greats Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Candace Parker.

1. Elena was initially offered a full scholarship to the University of Connecticut

For all the talk surrounding how fantastic an athlete Elena Delle Donne is on the basketball court, she is an even better person away from the game. Shortly after beginning her college days at the University of Connecticut, Delle Donne left the school to be closer to her family, most notably her sister Lizzie who is both blind and deaf and struggles with cerebral palsy. Wanting to remain by her family and sisters side, Delle Donne did not return to basketball until the beginning of the 2009 season when she joined the University of Delaware Blue Hens program. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be near loved ones, especially given the circumstances surrounding Elena's sister Lizzie. I'd say her collegiate career worked out just fine and her pro career is well on its way to greatness.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the recent WNBA Draft, how you think Elena Delle Donne's pro career will shape out and tell us who your favorite WNBA player is.