On Monday night, Washington Mystics superstar and reigning WNBA Most Valuable Player Elena Delle Donne said she was denied a medical exemption from playing in the upcoming season by a league-approved panel of doctors.

Delle Donne, who has battled Lyme disease for more than a decade and played through three herniated disks last season, told ESPN that this goes against the advice of her own doctor. “My personal physician who has treated me for Lyme disease for years advised me that I’m at high risk for contracting and having complications from COVID-19,” she wrote in a statement to ESPN.

“The independent panel of doctors the league appointed to review high-risk cases have advised that I’m not high risk, and should be permitted to play in the bubble.

“I love my team, and we had an unbelievable season last year, and I want to play! But the question is whether or not the WNBA bubble is safe for me,” she told the outlet.

Delle Donne can choose on her own to opt out and not play, but that would mean she wouldn’t get her salary. If she had received the medical exemption, she would have gotten full pay.

Erin Kane, Delle’s Donne agent, told ESPN that the medical panel’s decisions are final and players cannot appeal. In addition, Kane said that the Mystics’ team physician provided a letter to the panel saying that Delle Donne is able to play, but she should be considered “higher risk.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lays out a number of underlying medical conditions that could be lead to more severe illness from COVID-19. Lyme disease is not one of them.

Delle Donne has been awaiting the panel’s decision since at least July 8.

DCist/WAMU has reached out to Kane for further comment but has yet to hear back.

Right now, WNBA teams are assembling and practicing for their upcoming season at IMG Academy, a 600-acre student-athlete boarding school located in Bradenton, Florida. The season is set to begin July 25, but the defending champs are currently missing some of their best players.

Natasha Cloud and LaToya Sanders have both already made the decision to sit out the season, with Cloud saying she’s continuing her fight for social justice.

Forward Tina Charles was also waiting to hear back from the medical panel on a decision about an exemption. It’s unclear if she’s been informed of their decision on her status as of yet and if she’s making preparations to join the team in Florida.

It’s possible that Delle Donne will make the decision to play this upcoming season. “Like a lot of people, she’s making a choice between what’s best for her from a health standpoint and what’s best for her from a financial standpoint for her and her family,” Kane said.

Delle Donne told ESPN she needs to talk it over with family.

“I’m thinking things over, talking to my doctor and my wife,” she said. “And look forward to sharing what I ultimately plan to do very soon.”