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 established in 1997. It was named after Alana Beard, a former female basketball player. Their first-ever WNBA championship came 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 joined the team in the hopes of helping the team. Beard said she valued her teammates and her relationship with them. Her performance in the WNBA was a reflection of this.
Changes to the 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
After being down 2-0 in Game 1, the Washington Mysoltics made a dramatic comeback and reached the WNBA Finals. Elena Delle Donne, who scored 22 points for Game 5, led the Mystics. 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. Their team was named the best in the finals.
Organizational changes
The Mystics made many controversial changes 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. Julie Plank, the head coach, refused to accept GM or coaching duties. 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
Current changes to the uniforms of Washington Mystics players are underway. Previously, the team wore white jerseys with black and gold outlines. The Mystics switched to dark-blue jerseys in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In 2013, the team kept Inova as its jersey sponsor. However, the partnership ended in 2015. The jerseys have the team name and logo on them. The jerseys were made more colorful in 2016, when the Mystics went all-in on the matchups.