Mystics Hope to Build Something Bigger

By Katie Carrera

The Washington Post

September 23, 2009

The day after the Washington Mystics were swept out of the WNBA playoffs by the Indiana Fever, General Manager Angela Taylor turned her thoughts to the future. Although the Mystics accomplished a primary goal for the first year of the franchise's latest rebuilding effort by reaching the postseason for the first time in three seasons, plenty of work remains.

Taylor's next task is to find ways for Washington to build on its 16-18 record and take the next step toward playing for a league championship in the next three to five years.

'I think [winning a championship] can happen within that window or sooner. I think it can happen sooner rather than later,' Taylor said Tuesday as she began end-of-season interviews with players before they scattered across the country.

'We made a tremendous amount of progress,' she said. 'We set out this year wanting to make some significant strides on the court and to start to build a culture that could support a championship caliber mentality. I think we've done that. But we have to set the bar higher and higher.'

Building upon progress has always been a struggle for Washington, and it's something Taylor, the coaching staff and players are all acutely aware of.

Although the Mystics reached the playoffs for the fifth time in their history, they have advanced past the first round just once. The team still has just one winning regular season -- 18-16 in 2006 -- in 12 years of existence. But the organization is energized by the growth of the youngest team to reach the 2009 playoffs.

'I feel like we have started something very special with the Mystics,' Alana Beard said. 'I'm excited about next year already and the possibilities considering how well this team did. We are so young and this is the first time we've been together as a group. We never used those as excuses during the season, but I feel like with the experience we gained, the sky is the limit for this team.'

The all-star guard admitted that she was hampered by her sprained left ankle in Washington's two playoff games and 'wasn't 100 percent by any means.' With Beard not at full strength, it was clear that the Mystics were at a disadvantage against the Fever.

The Mystics' lack of experience was the most glaring difference between them and Indiana. Washington's players entered the series with just 31 games of postseason experience, while the Fever boasted 154.

'This isn't my first season but it was all new to me,' said Lindsey Harding, one of seven Mystics making their postseason debut. 'Me being the point guard, everyone looks at me for the leadership and was wondering what do we do next [once we got there]. But it was all new for me. It will only make me a better leader. I didn't understand the grind that you have to go through to get to the next level. You have to see it first hand to really understand it.'

Taylor declined to speak about any specific positions or weaknesses because she has just begun the evaluation process, but there are a few needs and outside factors that could influence the Mystics' makeup for next season.

There's a possibility that the WNBA could add a team in Tulsa during the offseason. In the event of an expansion draft, the Mystics would be able to protect only six players on the active roster.

Forward Monique Currie and backup point guard Nikki Blue are free agents. Blue appeared in just 16 games this season, playing an average of 5.7 minutes, and it remains uncertain if the team is pleased with her progress. The Mystics could be in the market for a more prominent backup so that Harding doesn't have to play 35 minutes per game.

Currie improved her defensive play late in the season, but inconsistency has plagued her throughout her career. Marissa Coleman, the first player drafted by Taylor and first-year Coach Julie Plank, could step into the starting small forward spot if the team doesn't bring Currie back. The Mystics may also try to shore up the front court so that Crystal Langhorne (12 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game) isn't the only regular contributor in the post.

Regardless of personnel changes, the biggest adjustment for the Mystics will be to maintain their positive outlook.

'Washington is a team that goes to the playoffs,' Harding said. 'We have to instill that in everyone's mind from rookies to vets. You go to the playoffs. By just having that mentality and just competing next year, I'm expecting to go a step further than we've gone, which means the Eastern Conference finals at least. Any less than what we did [this year] and we won't be happy.'

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