Washington Mystics, an American professional basketball club, is located in Washington D.C. They compete in Eastern Conference and are a member o the Women's National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1997 and was named after a female basketball player named Alana Beard. Their first WNBA championship took place in 2010 and the Mystics now hold the title. Below are some details about the team.
Alana Beard
Alana Beard, a rookie in the WNBA, was the second overall pick of the 2004 WNBA draft. With a record of 9-25, the Mystics finished the Eastern Conference's 2003 season last. Beard was hired to help the team. Beard expressed her appreciation for her teammates, and the relationship she had with them. This was evident in her performance in WNBA.
Team changes
The Washington Mystics underwent a number of controversial changes in the lead up to the 2011 season. The team didn't have the strongest season in franchise history despite finishing it. 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
The first WNBA Finals for the Washington Mysoltics was a thrilling one, as the team made a comeback after being down 2-0 in 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. 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 controversial changes in their organization prior to the 2011 season. Angela Taylor, assistant coach was dismissed after the owners failed to agree to a new contract. Julie Plank refused to be the head coach and take on the GM and coaching roles. Trudi Lacey was named 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. The team used to wear white jerseys with gold and black outlines. The Mystics changed to dark blue jerseys during the 2010-2011 seasons. The team retained its jersey sponsor, Inova, in 2013, but the partnership ends in 2015. The jerseys now include the team name, city and logo. The Mystics added more color to the jerseys in 2016 when they went all-in on matchups.