Washington Mystics, an American professional basketball club, is located in Washington D.C. They are a part of the Women's National Basketball Association. The team was created in 1997 and named after Alana Beard (a female basketball player). The Mystics won their first WNBA Championship in 2010. Here are some things you should know about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard (WNBA rookie) was chosen with the second overall pick during the 2004 WNBA draft. The Mystics finished last in the Eastern Conference's 2003 season with a record of 9-25. Beard joined the team in the hopes of helping 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
Before the 2011 season, Washington Mystics made several controversial changes. Despite finishing the best season in franchise history, the team hasn't been as strong as fans hoped. The Mystics drafted Skylar Smith and Courtney Harding as star forwards and relieved Angela Taylor, general manager and head coach, of her duties. Taylor was replaced by Trudi Lacey, who is now the head coach.
First-ever WNBA Finals
Washington Mysoltics won the first WNBA Finals. They came back after going down 2-0 in the Game 1. The Mystics were led by Elena Delle Donne's 22 points in Game 5. The six-foot-five forward also grabbed the game's MVP award, becoming the first WNBA player to win the MVP award off the bench. In addition, the team's two other star players - Emma Meesseman and Andre Iguodala - each scored at least 20 points. Their team was named the best in the finals.
Changes to the organization
Before the 2011 season began, the Mystics made a series of controversial changes to their organization. Angela Taylor, the assistant coach, was terminated after failing to reach a deal with the owners for a new contract. Julie Plank was not available to take over GM/coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was named GM. Sheila Johnson of the Mystics did not comment on Taylor’s departure, citing ongoing issues in human resources.
Modifications of the uniforms
The Washington Mystics is currently changing their uniforms. The uniforms of the Washington Mystics were previously white with black and gold outlines. The Mystics switched to dark-blue jerseys in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Although the jersey sponsor Inova remained with the team in 2013, the partnership was terminated in 2015. The jerseys will now display the team name and the city logo. The Mystics added more color to the jerseys in 2016 when they went all-in on matchups.