Mystics First Win Of 2007

In a week when one of their greatest names from the past shocked many with news of her sudden retirement, the Washington Mystics gave their eager fans a "present" to think optimistically about the future.

Backed by sensational bench performances and dazzling efforts from starters, the Mystics (1-8) earned their long-awaited first victory of the year, handing the Phoenix Mercury (6-5) an 86-69 defeat before an emotionally recharged Verizon Center in the nation's capital.

Guard/forward Monique Currie led the scoring attack with 25 points, despite not starting. She went 13-of-14 from the free throw line.

"Throughout this whole time, I think we've all stayed really positive," says Currie, delighted to have an 0-8 start behind her. "We'll remember how great we felt tonight...winning this game...that'll be our motivation."

Currie, one of the arrivals in Washington's whirlwind of change in the young WNBA season says that Wednesday's victory can be a new beginning for the Mystics in their 10th anniversary outing.

"We know we need to take it game by game," she admits. "We've got 34 games, we're at one win now. We need to look at the bigger picture too."

"Mo" was helped by 19 points and 4 rebounds from all-star game prospect Alana Beard. Her fellow guard Nikki Teasley threw in 12 points. Center Nakia Sanford came away with 9 boards, 8 of them defensively.

"Now we believe in the way we're doing things," says interim head coach Wayne "Tree" Rollins. "We knew once our shooting came around, that was the last piece. They didn't stop playing, they didn't stop working."

A mid-4th quarter rally of clutch 3-pointers and key rebounds proved to be the turning point in the contest, as a game that was neck-and-neck turned into shades of the spells the Mystics cast over opponents in 2006, as a playoff squad.

"We fought back," Rollins adds. "We closed the game out on a nigh note."

For the second time in 2007, a loss that the Mercury coughed up was their challenger's first win. A little over a week ago, the Minnesota Lynx came into Phoenix and broke their own long, early season losing streak.

"I hope we don't play Houston soon!" jokes Mercury phenomenon Diana Taurasi, referring to the Comets' status as the WNBA's one remaining winless team. "When we struggle...you have to find a way to get on the other end. Today we were just flat as flat can be."

Taurasi herself had another NBA-caliber performance in Wednesday's loss, 28 points, going 11-for-19 from the field. No one else on the Mercury scored more than 8. Center Kelly Schumacher tied the Mystics' Sanford for the game high rebound count, 9. Starting forward Penny Taylor played only 4 minutes, having taken a shot to the stomach on a collision in the first quarter. She will not miss any games over it though.

Phoenix led by as many as 8 in the second half, but appeared to run out of gas.

"The energy...it was there in spurts," Taurasi contends. "We play again on Friday, we have to regroup."

From D.C., the Mercury head to Indiana to play the Fever.

Meantime, the Mystics will try to earn their second win, as they play host to the always-challenging Los Angeles Sparks, still reeling from the retirement announcement of Chamique Holdsclaw, who spent six years (1999-2004) as a Mystic before moving to L.A. and retiring Monday.

"We can get two wins now that we've finally got one!" says Rollins. " I think we can build on that."

Holdsclaw's two teams clash Friday at the Verizon Center.

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