2002 Record 17-15, .531 (3rd in East) Points Scored 2135 (8th overall, 3rd in East) Points Allowed 2116 (6th overall, 3rd in East) Scoring Differential +0.6 (7th overall, 3rd in East) Offensive Efficiency 97.8 (8th overall, 5th in East) Defensive Efficiency 96.9 (5th overall, 2nd in East) Possessions per 40 min. 67.7 (9th overall, 3rd in East) What are these stats? Award Winners & Honorees All-Stars Stacey Dales-Schuman Chamique Holdsclaw All-WNBA, Second Team Chamique Holdsclaw 2002 Draft Recap Rd. 1 – 3, Stacey Dales-Schuman Rd. 1 – 4, Asjha Jones Rd. 3 – 33, LaNisha Cartwell Rd. 3 – 36, Teresa Geter Playoff History Two out of five years Last Appearance 2002, lost in Eastern Conf. Finals

The Mystics averaged more than six additional points per game in 2002 – the second largest gain in the league. Their field goal percentage jumped up 36 points and their three-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage rocketed up 90 points each. The improved offense helped the Mystics return to the playoffs for the second time in their five year history where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Charlotte Sting in the first round.

Holdsclaw

After four good seasons in Washington, Chamique Holdsclaw finally put together a spectacular year becoming the first player in WNBA history to lead the league in scoring (19.9) and rebounding (11.6). Had she not been injured for one-third of the season, she would have been a leading MVP candidate.

During the 2001-02 offseason, the Mystics traded Nikki McCray to the Indiana Fever for the fourth pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft giving them the third and fourth overall selections. They used those picks to take Stacey Dales-Schuman, who earned an All-Star berth while averaging 9.8 points and hitting 39.4 percent of her three-point field goals on the year, and Asjha Jones, who finished the year as the team's fifth leading scorer (6.5) and rebounder (2.8).

Coco Miller enjoyed a solid sophomore campaign winning Most Improved Player honors in the process. The ninth overall pick in the 2001 draft, Miller averaged 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists while connecting on 37.5 percent of her three-pointers.

Holdsclaw was injured for one-third of the season missing 12 games on the year. The Mystics managed to go 6-6 in her absence.

After surging to a 10-2 start, the Mystics limped through the end of the regular season playing .350 basketball (7-13). They fared even worse over the last 11 games going 2-9. The team’s offense, in particular, went south. Through the Mystics first 12 games, the team averaged 76.1 points. Over the remaining 20, Washington managed only 61.1 points.

Stacey Dales-Schuman hit the ground running during her rookie campaign averaging 15.3 points while hitting 51.7 percent of her field goal attempts and 54.8 percent of her three-point field goal attempts in her first seven games. Over her remaining 24 games, she averaged only 7.8 points on 36.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Head Coach Marianne Stanley 2002 Starting Line-up G Coco Miller G Annie Burgess C Vicky Bullett F Chamique Holdsclaw F Stacey Dales-Schuman Key 2002 Reserves F Asjha Jones F Murriel Page G Helen Luz

Which team is the real Washington Mystics – the team that jumped out to a 10-2 start, or the one that ended the season 2-9? Losing Holdsclaw in the middle of the season contributed to part of Washington’s slide, but they still struggled once she returned to the lineup.

Dales-Schuman

Can Stacey Dales-Schuman bounce back to regain the flashes of brilliance she showed early in the 2002 season? The Mystics need a consistent second scorer, and the Oklahoma grad is the top candidate.

Where can Washington find help for its post game? Vicky Bullett is 35 years-old and her scoring output has decreased in each of the past four seasons, and Murriel Page worked her way in and out of the starting rotation throughout the 2002 campaign posting some of the lowest numbers of her career. Both players are still valuable, but they could use some assistance in the paint.