Delaware basketball team announces new partnership

The Delaware 87ers announced a partnership with WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne, naming her the team’s goodwill ambassador.

“I’m thrilled to join with the 87ers. Obviously we both really care about the Delaware community so it really was a no-brainer teaming up with this incredible organization,” said Delle Donne, a WNBA Chicago Sky guard and former University of Delaware standout. 

The NBA development league also announced a Delle Donne six-game ticket pack, in which Delle Donne will appear at select Sevens home games and events. Information about tickets can be found at www.Sevens.com/promo, enter the code ELENA.

“The Delaware 87ers are excited to welcome Elena Delle Donne to the team for the upcoming season,” said 87ers President Aaron Moszer. “We’re confident in bringing Elena on board, the 87ers will be able to raise awareness to many great organizations in the community, in addition to spreading the team’s reach throughout the state.”

The 87ers host eight nonprofit game nights throughout the season including “LymeAid 4 Kids Night” and “Special Olympics Night.” Delle Donne partnered with the Sevens last year to raise money for Lyme disease. Delle Donne who was diagnosed with the disease, will be a part of the event this season.

Delle Donne will also take part in the team’s Special Olympics event. She is a national spokesperson for the organization.

Moszer said the night will help raise awareness and, “provide some great experiences and opportunites for the Special Olympians to come down and play a game on the court.” Moszer said the Sevens will also develop a unique uniform to wear that night to be auctioned off later. All of the proceeds, he said, will go back to the Special Olympics.

“I’m just really excited to reach out to the community, hopefully bring even more Delaware fans to 87ers games and we’ll just have a lot of fun with this,” Delle Donne said.

The NBA development team relocated to Delaware in 2013. The team was named to commemorate the year in which Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution, 1787. 

The NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers own the 87ers. They play at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center in Newark.

The team’s home-opener is on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m.