Mystics Welcome Back Holdsclaw

The Washington Mystics are hoping that Chamique Holdsclaw's official return to MCI Center will turn out a little different from her unofficial one.

When Holdsclaw and her new team, the Los Angeles Sparks, visited Washington on May 10 for a preseason game, the former Mystics star scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a Los Angeles victory. Tonight, Holdsclaw and the Sparks return to face a revamped Mystics team in a game that counts.

After an impressive season-opening victory at Charlotte, the Mystics (1-1) allowed a winnable game to slip away down the stretch in their home opener against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The Mystics have played without star guard Alana Beard, who remains questionable for tonight's game with a sprained ankle, while two other key players, forwards DeLisha Milton-Jones and Chasity Melvin, have had limited time to practice after returning from playing overseas.

To speed up the learning process, Mystics Coach Richie Adubato and his staff spent the last three days drilling the team in practices long on repetition and teaching.

"We're going over things as many times as it takes to learn them," Adubato said. "We're playing catch-up right now."

The return of Holdsclaw and the Sparks should provide a nice test. Los Angeles, which lost at Minnesota last night, opened the season with a 68-50 victory over the defending champion Seattle Storm on Saturday. Last year's league MVP, Lisa Leslie, scored 23 points while Holdsclaw made her Sparks debut a good one by scoring 16 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Last night the duo combined for 27 points.

The Leslie-Holdsclaw combination is one reason the Sparks are considered strong favorites to win their third WNBA championship this season. The Mystics' top draft pick in 1999 and a three-time all-star, Holdsclaw was traded to Los Angeles for Milton-Jones on March 21 after a tumultuous final season in Washington.

Holdsclaw averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds last season but missed 11 games for what was described at the time as "undisclosed medical reasons." Holdsclaw eventually divulged that she was being treated for depression. Holdsclaw was greeted by warm applause during her May 10 return to MCI Center and likely will receive a nice reception tonight.

But even as Mystics fans ponder the past, this game could provide plenty of reasons to think about the future because it appears that the franchise has something special in rookie point guard Temeka Johnson.

In two starts, the first-round pick from Louisiana State has averaged 11 points, 5 assists and 2 steals while shooting 71.4 percent. At 5 feet 3, Johnson is the WNBA's shortest player but makes up for a lack of height with quickness, court vision and an attacking mentality that allows her to get into the lane at will.

Johnson brought the MCI Center crowd to its feet on several occasions Sunday with spectacular plays -- including a running floater she somehow dropped over Connecticut's 7-3 center Margo Dydek -- and already has earned the respect of her veteran teammates.

"She's a true point guard, and everyone loves playing with a true point guard," Melvin said. "She's really quick so we're still kind of adjusting to her. You have to be ready at all times because if you get open, she's going to find you."

Mystics Notes: New co-owner Sheila Johnson said she will be at tonight's game. Johnson, a partner in Lincoln Holdings LLC, which bought the team from Abe Pollin on Tuesday, will carry the titles of president, managing partner and governor for the Mystics.