Washington Mystics, an American professional basketball club, is located in Washington D.C. They are a member the Women's National Basketball Association, and play in the Eastern Conference. The team was created in 1997 and named after Alana Beard (a female basketball player). Their first WNBA championship took place in 2010 and the Mystics now hold the title. Here are some things you should know about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard, a rookie in the WNBA, was the second overall pick of the 2004 WNBA draft. The Mystics finished the 2003 season last in the Eastern Conference with a 9-25 record. Beard was hired to help the team. Beard shared that she was proud of her team and the friendships she made with them. She was able to show this in her performance at the WNBA.
Changes to team
Prior to the 2011 season, Washington Mystics made some controversial changes. The team was not as strong after finishing the greatest season in franchise history. The Mystics traded Skylar Smith and Courtney Harding, star forwards, to relieve Angela Taylor, head coach and general manger. Taylor was succeeded by Trudi lacey, who became the new 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. 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. 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. They were therefore voted the best team at the finals.
Changes in the organization
The Mystics made many controversial changes before the 2011 season. Angela Taylor, assistant coaching coach, was fired for not being able to reach an agreement on a new deal with the owners of the team. 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. The team used to wear white jerseys with gold and black outlines. The Mystics switched from white jerseys to dark blue jerseys for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In 2013, Inova, the team's jersey sponsor, was retained by the Mystics, but that partnership has ended in 2015. The jerseys are now embroidered with the team's name and the logo of the city. The jerseys were made more colorful in 2016, when the Mystics went all-in on the matchups.