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 won their first WNBA Championship in 2010. Here are some things you should know about the team.
Alana Beard
WNBA rookie Alana Beard was selected with the second overall pick in the 2004 WNBA draft. The Mystics finished last in the Eastern Conference's 2003 season with a record of 9-25. Beard was brought into the organization with the hope that she could help turn things around for the team. Beard said that she valued her teammates as well as her relationships with them. Her performance in the WNBA was a reflection of this.
Changes to the team
The Washington Mystics underwent a number of controversial changes in the lead up to the 2011 season. The team was not as strong after finishing the greatest season in franchise history. The Mystics traded away star forwards Courtney Harding and Skylar Smith, and relieved head coach and general manager Angela Taylor of her duties. Taylor was replaced by Trudi Lacey, who is now the head coach.
First ever WNBA Finals
Washington Mysoltics' first WNBA Finals was thrilling. The team came back from being down 2-0 after Game 1. Elena Delle Donne's 22 point performance in Game 5 led the Mystics. Six-foot-five forward Elena Delle Donne won the MVP award for the game. She became the first WNBA player not to be seated to win this award. Emma Meesseman was the other team star, while Andre Iguodala was also a part of the winning team. They each scored at most 20 points. Their team was named the best in the finals.
Organisational changes
The Mystics made several controversial changes to their organization before the 2011 season. Assistant coach Angela Taylor was let go after failing to come to an agreement with the team's owners on a new contract. Head coach Julie Plank declined to handle GM and coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was named 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 uniforms of the Washington Mystics were previously white with black and gold outlines. The Mystics changed to dark blue jerseys during the 2010-2011 seasons. In 2013, Inova was the jersey sponsor of the team, but it ended its partnership in 2015. The jerseys are now embroidered with the team's name and the logo of the city. The Mystics added more color to the jerseys in 2016 when they went all-in on matchups.