Williams

Washington, D.C. – Teams from around the league open their doors to free agents that are trying to get that one slot that a team may have for training camp. On Wednesday, April 19, the Mystics held open tryouts at Hoop Magic in Centreville, Virginia. Forty players from some of the top programs in the country were in attendance. Sonja Chase from Maryland, Brittany Jackson from Tennessee, Santia Jackson from Georgetown were just a few of the players who came to the tryout. Some of the names you may know, but Rita Williams is a name that you should remember.

Williams was on the Mystics inaugural team back in 1998. She was drafted in the second round (13th overall) in the 1998 WNBA Draft out of the University of Connecticut. She played two seasons with Washington before being released to the Indiana Fever during the 1999 Expansion Draft

“I’m just trying to get back to playing basketball. I feel like I can still play,” said Williams. “I’ve played basketball all my life and you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. I heard about the open tryout and I hope to get on the team that started my dream.”

Williams bounced around the league, playing in Indiana, Houston and Seattle but Washington always felt like home.

“I loved playing in Washington. It felt like my second home. When I was here I would come back to visit even when the season was over. The fans are great here. Even when we were 3-27 in the first year, we were still leading the league in attendance. That just shows how faithful the fans are. They were still cheering for us. That says a lot about our fans.”

During the tryout and as Washington gets ready for training camp, the coaches and general manager, Linda Hargrove were looking at all 40 players who attended to fill just one spot for training camp. Hargrove felt that Williams experience and athleticism gave her a legitimate shot at that one spot.

“Rita is a very solid point guard. She has experience in the league,” said Hargrove. “She’s in great shape and this is the second time I’ve seen her in a free agent camp. She showed leadership, showed she could score from the outside.”

Williams knows it’s going to take a lot of work to get back into the league but she’s determined and excited about the opportunity.

“This is unique for me because these girls are trying to make a team and I’m trying to get back on a team. I’m just like them. I’ve never been in this experience before. You just have to come out here and work hard. It’s not about making every shot. You don’t have to score every time. The coaches are looking at your overall play.”

By the time the day was over, Williams did get her second chance. Hargrove liked what she saw from Williams in tryouts and invited her to attend the Mystics training camp. Now fans will have to watch and see how far this original Mystic will go.

For additional media information, please contact Ketsia Colimon or Nicole Boden in the Public Relations Office at 202-266-2200.