The Washington Mystics are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. They are a member of the Women's National Basketball Association and compete in the Eastern Conference. The team was founded 1997, and its name is Alana Beard. The Mystics are currently the defending champions after winning their first WNBA title in 2010. Below are some facts about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard (WNBA rookie) was chosen with the second overall pick during the 2004 WNBA draft. The Mystics finished 2003's Eastern Conference season last with a record that was 9-25. Beard was brought into the organization with the hope that she could help turn things around for the team. Beard shared that she was proud of her team and the friendships she made with them. This was evident in her performance in WNBA.
Changes in the team
The Washington Mystics made many controversial changes before the 2011 season. Despite finishing the best season in franchise history, the team hasn't been as strong as fans hoped. The Mystics traded away star forwards Courtney Harding and Skylar Smith, and relieved head coach and general manager Angela Taylor of her duties. 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. The Mystics were led by Elena Delle Donne's 22 points in Game 5. The six-foot five forward was also awarded the MVP award. He became the first WNBA player in history to receive the MVP award. The team also had two star players, Emma Meesseman (and Andre Iguodala) who each scored at least 20. The team was voted best in the finals.
Changes in the organization
The Mystics made many controversial changes before the 2011 season. Angela Taylor, assistant coach, was fired after she failed to reach an agreement with team owners regarding a new contract. Julie Plank, head coach, declined to assume GM and coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was appointed GM. Sheila Johnson, owner of the Mystics, refused to comment on Taylor's departure citing ongoing human resource issues.
Modifications of the uniforms
The Washington Mystics are currently in the midst of a major change in 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. The team retained its jersey sponsor, Inova, in 2013, but the partnership ends in 2015. The jerseys will now display the team name and the city logo. The jerseys were made more colorful in 2016, when the Mystics went all-in on the matchups.