Washington Mystics
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| Washington Mystics | |
| Image:WashingtonMystics 100.png | |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Home court | Verizon Center |
| Colors | Light blue, gold |
| WNBA Championships | 0 |
| Conference Championships | 0 |
| Playoff Appearances | 2 (2000, 2004) |
| Head coach | Richie Adubato |
| General manager | Linda Hargrove |
| Owner | Ted Leonsis |
| Mascot | Charm [1] |
The Washington Mystics are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Washington, DC. They started play in 1998, the second year of the WNBA and are one of the WNBA's first expansion franchises. Although the Mystics have had women's basketball legends Nikki McCray and Chamique Holdsclaw on their roster in the past, the franchise has had mixed success.
The Mystics are the WNBA counterpart to the Washington Wizards, but as of 2005 the two franchises are owned by different companies.
The president of the team is Sheila Johnson, co-founder of BET and ex-wife of Charlotte Sting owner Robert L. Johnson. [2]
Uniforms:
- On the road, deep blue with black and gold trim and white "Mystics" logo text on the chest. At home, white with gold and light blue trim and light blue "Mystics" logo text. The Mystics logo is on the right leg of the shorts.
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Franchise history
The Washington Mystics were one of the first WNBA expansion franchises to be established. In 1998, their first season, they were lead by Olympian Nikki McCray. Although they did not make the playoffs that year, the team had high expectations after drafting University of Tennessee star Chamique Holdsclaw in 1999. Holdsclaw would lead the team to the playoffs in 2000.
After being tied for the worst record in the WNBA in 2001, coach Tom Maher and General Manager Melissa McFerrin both resigned. With the future of the franchise up in the air, Mystics assistant coach Marianne Stanley took over as head coach and with the duo of Holdsclaw and rookie guard Stacey Dales-Schuman, the Mystics made the playoffs in 2002. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost 2 games to 1 to the New York Liberty.
Rumors of Holdsclaw being unhappy playing in Washington came to a head in 2004 when the Mystics star was sidelined with an unspecified ailment, later revealed to be a bout with depression. With their all-star out, rookie and Duke University standout Alana Beard led a depleted Mystics team to a surprising playoff appearance, the second playoff appearance in Mystics history.
2005 saw deep changes in the Mystics organization. Former star Chamique Holdsclaw joined the Los Angeles Sparks and the team was sold by Washington Sports and Entertainment to Lincoln Holdings LLC, lead by Ted Leonsis. [3] In 2005, the team finished the regular season with a win/loss record of 16-18 and failed to make the playoffs.
Players of note
Hall of Famers
Current stars
Retired numbers
none
Not to be forgotten
Coaches and others
Head Coaches:
- Jim Lewis (1998)
- Cathy Parson (1999)
- Darrell Walker (2000)
- Tom Maher (2001)
- Marianne Stanley (2002-2003), now an Assistant Coach with the New York Liberty
- Michael Adams (2004)
- Richie Adubato (2005)