Washington Mystics is an American pro basketball team, based out of Washington, D.C. They compete in the Eastern Conference as a member of Women's National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1997 and was named after a female basketball player named Alana Beard. The Mystics are currently the defending champions after winning their first WNBA title in 2010. Here are some things you should know about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard, a rookie in the WNBA, was the second overall pick of the 2004 WNBA draft. With a record of 9-25, the Mystics finished the Eastern Conference's 2003 season last. Beard joined the team in the hopes of helping the team. Beard stated that she values her teammates and the relationships she has with them. This was reflected in her performance in the WNBA.
Team changes
The Washington Mystics made a series of controversial changes prior to the 2011 season. Despite having the best season in franchise-history, the team isn't as strong as it was expected. The Mystics traded SkylarSmith and Courtney Harding for star forwards. Angela Taylor was relieved of her duties as head coach and general manager. Taylor was succeeded by Trudi lacey, who became the new head coach.
First ever WNBA Finals
Washington Mysoltics had a thrilling WNBA Finals. After going down 2-0 in Game 1 they made a remarkable comeback. Elena Delle Donne scored 22 of the Mystics' points in Game 5. The six-foot-five forward won the MVP award and became the first WNBA player ever to take the MVP award from the bench. Additionally, Andre Iguodala and Emma Meesseman, two of the team's star players, each scored at minimum 20 points. The team was voted best in the finals.
Modifications to the organization
The Mystics made controversial changes in their organization prior to the 2011 season. Angela Taylor, assistant coach, was fired after she failed to reach an agreement with team owners regarding a new contract. Head coach Julie Plank declined to handle GM and coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was appointed GM. Sheila Johnson, the owner of Mystics was not able to comment on Taylor’s departure. She cited ongoing human resources problems.
Modifications to the uniforms
Current changes to the uniforms of Washington Mystics players are underway. The team used to wear white jerseys with gold and black outlines. The Mystics changed to dark blue jerseys during the 2010-2011 seasons. In 2013, Inova, the team's jersey sponsor, was retained by the Mystics, but that partnership has ended in 2015. The jerseys now include the team name, city and logo. The Mystics took a bolder approach to matchups in 2016, and the jerseys became more colorful.