Washington Mystics Roster


No. 22

Matee Ajavon

Position: Guard
Ht., Wt.: 5-8, 160
Experience: Second year
Last season: 8.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 79.1 FT% (Comets)
Strengths: Equipped with blistering speed and great at creating space in transition. She also has a knack for forcing turnovers.
Weaknesses: She's a young player adjusting to the league. After a limited role with the Comets in her rookie season, she'll be asked to shoulder additional responsibilities with the Mystics.
No. 20

Alana Beard

Position: Guard/Forward
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 160
Experience: Sixth year
Last season: 16.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 73.3 FT%
Strengths: A strong all-around player and game changer who can will the team to victory on her own; still the cornerstone of the franchise.
Weaknesses: Trusting her teammates to fulfill their responsibilities. The coaching staff has asked her to relax and let everyone be accountable rather than trying to do everything by herself.
No. 32

Nikki Blue

Position: Point guard
Ht., Wt.: 5-8, 163
Experience: Fourth year
Last season: 3.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 76.0 FT%
Strengths: Has improved her decision-making on the court and shows a dedicated work ethic that has gained the confidence of the new coaching staff and her teammates.
Weaknesses: Was flustered easily last season when targeted by the opposition, which led to hasty passes and unforced turnovers.
No. 4

Marissa Coleman

Position: Guard/Forward
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 160
Experience: 6-1, 160
Last season: 18.1 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 80.0 FT % (Maryland)
Strengths: Excellent playmaker, strong rebounder whose size makes her versatile; boasts one of the most accurate shots of the rookies.
Weaknesses: Coming from Maryland's offense-first style, she must prove she can have as significant an impact on the defensive end as well.
No. 25

Monique Curry

Position: Forward
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 177
Experience: Fourth year
Last season: 11.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 82.6 FT%
Strengths: A strong defender who shows patience on the offensive end, she can also be effective from behind the arc.
Weaknesses: Plagued by inconsistency throughout her career, she needs to display an ability to be a regular contributor and fill her role as a member of Washington's core group of players.
No. 10

Lindsey Harding

Position: Point guard
Ht., Wt.: 5-8, 139
Experience: Third year
Last season: 6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 69.4 FT% (Lynx)
Strengths: An aggressive ball handler who pushes the tempo, the former overall No. 1 draft pick boasts considerable speed and defensive instincts.
Weaknesses: Limited by knee injuries throughout her first two seasons in the league, it's unclear if she is durable enough to be a team's go-to point guard.
No. 34

Tasha Humphrey

Position: Center
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 190
Experience: Second year
Last season: 11.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 58.8 FT%
Strengths: A physical presence in the post who's extremely efficient with her shots and offensive possessions.
Weaknesses: A physical presence in the post who's extremely efficient with her shots and offensive possessions.
No. 1

Crystal Langhorne

Position: Forward/Center
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 190
Experience: Second year
Last season: 4.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 54.9 FT%
Strengths: One of the most consistent players on the roster, she is unflappable in games and gained confidence after leading her Lithuanian team to a league championship in the WNBA offseason.
Weaknesses: An undersized post player, she took her knocks as a rookie.
No. 44

Chasity Melvin

Position: Center/Forward
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 185
Experience: 11th year
Last season: 8.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 61.4 FT% (Sky)
Strengths: A wily veteran who has played for a number of coaches and teams, she has the experience and perspective many of her younger teammates lack. A reliable workhorse in the post.
Weaknesses: Is she willing to work through the growing pains of a young squad during her second stint in Washington?
No. 51

Josephine Owino

Position: Center
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, not available
Experience: Rookie
Last season: 19.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 70.7 FT% (Union, Tenn.)
Strengths: A physical post player and constant presence on the scoresheet in college. A Mombasa, Kenya native who also has international experience playing for the Kenyan national team.
Weaknesses: She is still a raw, young player who needs to adapt to the WNBA game.
No. 43

Nakia Sanford

Position: Forward/Center
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 200
Experience: Seventh year
Last season: 6.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 39.8 FT%
Strengths: A solid post player and a source of energy in the locker room. She and Melvin form a veteran tandem to anchor the front court.
Weaknesses: Struggled with consistency and averaged a team high 4.10 personal fouls per game in 2008 that limited her effectiveness.
Coach

Julie Plank

Experience: First year as a head coach. Strong reputation after nine years as a WNBA assistant.
Key objective: Find a way to maximize the talent and motivate the players even if the team struggles.
General Manager

Angela Taylor

Experience: First year as a general manager. Worked in the Minnesota Lynx front office for two years after nearly a decade working in the league office.
Key objective: Create a core nucleus of players that can remain intact for years to come and turn the franchise around.

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