Washington Mystics is an American pro basketball team, based out of Washington, D.C. They compete in Eastern Conference and are a member o the Women's National Basketball Association. The team was formed in 1997. Their name was inspired by a female player named Alana beard. Their first-ever WNBA championship came in 2010 and the Mystics are the defending champions. 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 were last in Eastern Conference for 2003 with a record 9-25. Beard was hired to help the team. Beard said that she valued her teammates as well as her relationships with them. This was evident in her performance in WNBA.
Changes to team
The Washington Mystics made many controversial changes before the 2011 season. The team was not as strong after finishing the greatest season in franchise history. The Mystics traded Skylar and Courtney Smith, who were star forwards, to Angela Taylor, the general manager and head coach. Taylor was replaced by Trudi Lacey, who is now the 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, who is 6'5" and five feet tall, won the MVP Award. This was the first time that a WNBA player has been awarded the MVP. In addition, the team's two other star players - Emma Meesseman and Andre Iguodala - each scored at least 20 points. As a result, they were voted the best team in the finals.
Modifications to the organization
Before the 2011 season, the Mystics made some controversial changes to the organization. Angela Taylor, assistant coach was dismissed after the owners failed to agree to a new contract. Julie Plank refused to be the head coach and take on the GM and coaching roles. Trudi Lacey was named GM. Mystics owner Sheila Johnson would not comment on Taylor's departure, citing ongoing human resources issues.
Modifications to the uniforms
The Washington Mystics are currently undergoing a major overhaul of their uniforms. Previously, the team wore white jerseys with black and gold outlines. The Mystics switched from white jerseys to dark blue jerseys for 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 went all in on the matchups in 2016, making the jerseys even more colorful.