The Washington Mystics are a Women's National Basketball Association team. They play at MCI Center in Washington, DC. They started play in 1998 the second year of the WNBA.

Contents

1 Uniforms 2 Playoff History 3 History 4 Retired Numbers 5 Hall of Famers 6 Not to be Forgotten 7 Current Stars 8 Coaches and others 9 External links

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.

Playoff History

Playoff Appearances: 2000, 2004

Conference Championships:

WNBA Championships:

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.

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 suprising playoff berth, the second playoff berth in Mystics history. With the addition of Beard and Coco Miller, along with veteran leadership from Murriel Page and Chastity Melvin, the Mystics look to be contenders in the Eastern Conference.

Retired Numbers

Hall of Famers

Not to be Forgotten

• Nikki McCray
• Stacey Dales-Schuman

Current Stars

• Alana Beard
• Chamique Holdsclaw
• Chasity Melvin
• Coco Miller
• Murriel Page
• Nakia Sanford

Coaches and others

Head Coaches:

• Jim Lewis (1998)
• Cathy Parson (1999)
• Darrell Walker (2000)
• Tom Maher (2001)
• Marianne Stanley (2002-2003)
• Michael Adams (2004 - Present)

External links

• Mystics website (http://www.wnba.com/mystics)