| Page 2 of 2 < |
Mystics Drop Season Opener
Katie Douglas, right, scored 24 points to lead the Fever past the Mystics. Indiana has won five in a row against Washington.
(By Tom Strickland -- Associated Press)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Douglas scored 22 of Indiana's first 42 points, shooting 8 for 18 from the field. Her points were key because the Fever was without its star, Catchings, out indefinitely while recovering from Achilles' tendon surgery.
The crowd was nine shy of the Fever's best last season, and part of that could be attributed to Douglas, who played high school basketball in Indianapolis and helped Purdue to the 1999 NCAA title.
"She's a left-hander," Rollins said of what makes her hard to guard. "She goes left, goes left, goes left and comes back right, but we knew that from her days at Connecticut when she gave us problems.
"Normally we can put Alana Beard on her and she does a better job, not that she stops her. Monique Currie's not accustomed to chasing her, and a rookie like [Krystal] Vaughn is too inexperienced for a pro like Katie."
The Fever shot 45 percent to the Mystics' 43 and had just 14 turnovers.
Still, the Mystics managed their only lead, 44-43, entering the fourth quarter. But the Fever, with only one starter on the floor, went on an 8-0 run, and the Mystics never led again.
Vaughn missed her college graduation for her pro debut because Virginia Commonwealth's commencement was Saturday. Vaughn, who earned a degree in sport management, is the first from her family to graduate from college.
"This is a lifelong dream," she said of playing in the WNBA. "We weren't successful today, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. I'm still going to get my diploma, and any other day I can get with my family and celebrate my graduation."
