Elena Delle Donne is dominating the WNBA after 682 days away from the court recovering from multiple injuries and surgeries

• Elena Delle Donne is back.
• The two-time WNBA MVP returned to the Mystics for the first time since winning the title in 2019.
• Despite the 682-day hiatus and minutes restriction, EDD averaged 17 points over her first two games back.

Elena Delle Donne is back like she never left.

And, boy, did she leave for a really, really long time.

After missing the better part of two seasons recovering from a slew of injuries and multiple back surgeries, the two-time WNBA MVP made her much-awaited WNBA return with the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Despite a minutes restriction, 22 months of rust, and "that first day of school butterfly feeling," as she told ESPN's Holly Rowe, Delle Donne defied her own expectations and shined against the perennial powerhouse Seattle Storm.

In 22 minutes on the floor, the 6-foot-5 forward racked up 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the floor and tacked on three rebounds to boot. While Delle Donne's impressive effort wasn't enough to propel Washington past Seattle's three-headed monster of Sue Bird, Brenna Stewart, and Jewell Loyd, her uninhibited movements and fluid footwork were a welcome sign for the Mystics faithful.

"It was just exciting to be out here," Delle Donne told Rowe after the game. "... It's still a day-to-day thing. I'm honored I was able to get out here to compete with my team, and we'll see after the adrenaline wears off how I'm doing and get ready for the next one."

Her body held up fine - or at least fine enough to deliver 18 points, five rebounds, and an assist in just 18 minutes of play. Delle Donne registered a +36 for her effort - the second-highest plus-minus recorded across the league this season - and helped Washington enjoy a lopsided victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.

The WNBA's sole member of the 50-40-90 club admitted to getting a bit emotional throughout that first game back on Sunday. After all, "it has been quite a long road," she said just a few weeks before making her return.

In October 2019, Delle Donne reached the pinnacle of her career to date when she powered the Mystics to their first title. But after the franchise hoisted its championship trophy, Washington guard Natasha Cloud broke the news that Delle Donne had played through three herniated discs, a broken nose, and a lingering knee injury to finally secure the hardware for the Mystics.

She devoted the majority of the next two years to her recovery, going under the knife for two different back surgeries before having to relearn many of life's basic movements. Walking, running, standing, and sitting were all on the docket in physical therapy, according to the Washington Post.

Playing physical, competitive five-on-five basketball would have to wait a full 682 days after her heroic performance in Game 5 of the 2019 WNBA Final.

For Delle Donne and Washington fans alike, the wait was well worth it.

"I don't think you realize how much you miss it until you're actually back in it," the superstar said. "My goodness. This has just been so refreshing to get moments on the court with my team again."