Washington Mystics, an American professional basketball club, is located in Washington D.C. They are a part of the Women's National Basketball Association. 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. Below are some facts about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard, a rookie to the WNBA, received the second overall selection in 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 said that she valued her teammates as well as her relationships with them. Her performance in the WNBA was a reflection of this.
Team changes
Prior to the 2011 season, Washington Mystics made some controversial changes. The team finished the most successful season in franchise history but has not been as strong as the fans expected. The Mystics traded Skylar Smith and Courtney Harding, star forwards, to relieve Angela Taylor, head coach and general manger. New head coach Trudi Lacey was named to replace Taylor.
First ever WNBA Finals
After being down 2-0 in Game 1, the Washington Mysoltics made a dramatic comeback and reached the WNBA Finals. The Mystics were led by Elena Delle Donne's 22 points 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 to the organization
Before the 2011 season began, the Mystics made a series of controversial changes to their organization. Assistant coach Angela Taylor was let go after failing to come to an agreement with the team's owners on a new contract. Head coach Julie Plank declined to handle GM and coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was named GM. Mystics owner Sheila Johnson would not comment on Taylor's departure, citing ongoing human resources issues.
Changes to the uniforms
Current changes to the uniforms of Washington Mystics players are underway. The uniforms of the Washington Mystics were previously white 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 took a bolder approach to matchups in 2016, and the jerseys became more colorful.