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 founded 1997, and its name is Alana Beard. Their first WNBA championship was 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 in WNBA was selected as the second overall pick in 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 shared that she was proud of her team and the friendships she made with them. This was evident in her performance in WNBA.
Changes to team
The Washington Mystics made a series of controversial changes prior to the 2011 season. The team was not as strong after finishing the greatest season in franchise history. 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 had a thrilling WNBA Finals. After going down 2-0 in Game 1 they made a remarkable comeback. Elena Delle Donne's 22 point performance in Game 5 led the Mystics. 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. As a result, they were voted the best team in the finals.
Modifications to the organization
The Mystics made controversial changes in their organization prior to 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, the head coach, refused to accept GM or coaching duties. Trudi Lacey was named GM. Sheila Johnson (owner of Mystics) did not comment on Taylor's departure. She said that Taylor was still having issues with human resources.
Uniform changes
The Washington Mystics have recently undergone a significant change in their uniforms. The team used to wear white jerseys with gold and black outlines. For the 2010 and 2011 seasons, the Mystics switched to dark blue jerseys. 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 Mystics went all in on the matchups in 2016, making the jerseys even more colorful.