The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. They compete in the Eastern Conference as a member of Women's National Basketball Association. The team was created in 1997 and named after Alana Beard (a female basketball player). Their first WNBA championship was in 2010, and the Mystics are the defending champions. Listed below are a few things to know about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard, a rookie to the WNBA, received the second overall selection in the 2004 WNBA Draft. With a record of 9-25, the Mystics finished the Eastern Conference's 2003 season last. Beard was brought into the organization with the hope that she could help turn things around for 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.
Changes in the team
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 Skylar Smith and Courtney Harding, star forwards, to relieve Angela Taylor, head coach and general manger. Taylor was relieved by Trudi Lattey, the new head coach.
First-ever WNBA Finals
The first WNBA Finals for the Washington Mysoltics was a thrilling one, as the team made a comeback after being down 2-0 in Game 1. Elena Delle Donne scored 22 points for the Mystics 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. Emma Meesseman and Andre Iguodala, both star players on the team, scored at least 20 point. They were therefore voted the best team at the finals.
Modifications to the organization
The Mystics made many controversial changes before the 2011 season. 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 appointed GM. Sheila Johnson of the Mystics did not comment on Taylor’s departure, citing ongoing issues in human resources.
Uniform changes
The Washington Mystics are currently in the midst of a major change in their uniforms. The previous uniforms were white with gold and black outline. The Mystics changed to dark blue jerseys during the 2010-2011 seasons. Although the jersey sponsor Inova remained with the team in 2013, the partnership was terminated 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.