But the Washington Mystics star, who has battled Lyme disease for years, also wonders how his body would react if he contracted Covid-19 while playing.
However, Delle Donne, 30, said in a statement that her personal doctor had told her that she is at high risk.
The panel of doctors was approved by the league and the National Association of Women Basketball Players (WNBPA).
“I was surprised,” Delle Donne, also a vice president of WNBPA, told CNN on Wednesday. “And the process makes it difficult because there’s not even the ability to appeal and I couldn’t speak to the panel.”
“It does, and it scares me,” said Delle Donne. “I mean I know that’s not safe. I know that taking antibiotics for a long time is not healthy, but I also know that when I don’t take that medicine I feel terrible and can’t play basketball, sometimes I can’t even get out of bed. so it’s something I have to do to live the most normal life possible. “
CNN, when contacted by CNN on Monday, declined to comment on Delle Donne’s exclusion request, citing privacy concerns about health.
“As with all of our players, we have supported and will continue to support Elena throughout this process,” Mystics head coach and general manager Mike Thibault said Monday. “The health and well-being of our players is of utmost importance.”
WNBPA Executive Director Terri Jackson told CNN in an email Wednesday: “It is not appropriate for the Palestinian Authority to comment on a player’s medical condition. EDD is a valuable and trusted member of our player leadership. The we support 1000% “.
Delle Donne is still considering whether to play this season, which begins July 25 and will take place at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. If you choose not to play, you said you would get “zero percent” of your salary and not receive the majority of your endorsements.
“I have invested a lot in this league and I have seen it grow a lot in my years of being here. So, for a moment like this, feeling that I am bankrupt has been difficult, but all this happens, and I hope we can move forward and this can be a learning experience. “
She told CNN that she wants to make her decision as soon as possible and said, “I don’t want this to drag on. I don’t want my teammates in the bubble to have to deal with this.”
However, she said she is fortunate to be in a position to make a decision.
“I know there are many people through Covid who have lost their jobs, who have not been able to decide whether to take care of their health or go to work because they simply do not have a choice,” said Delle Donne. . “So I know I am in a situation where I am super blessed and I will have to figure this out and decide what the best route will be.”
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