Anne (Arlington): I'd like to say thank you for your support at every game! As a fan, it's wonderful to see you and your excitement as you rock it out and really get into the game! What is the organization doing or going to do about the decline in attendance? As a long time fan, it hurts to see all those empty seats when we used to have a packed house every game.

Sheila Johnson: I think first of all we have a little competition as Washington is really becoming a sports town. The Nationals are taking some attendence away, and raising the ticket prices two years ago was complaint, despite the fact that our prices are relatively low. But that could have been handled better PR-wise.

Also, we're having a study done to look at our market and try and get our attendance back up. We need to get the facts....before we just do giveaways....we need to get the facts and see why attendance is going down. And we're looking at this throughout our league, not just the Washington market. But we're working on that and we're gonna find ways to fix it.

Joan, Silver Spring, MD : Hi Sheila: We are happy to have you as the new owner and particularly enjoy your enthusiasm at the games. It's clear you are a real fan (as well as a former cheerleader). I heard you on local radio, WAMU, tell Kojo that you had some ideas of where you wanted to take the Mystics and the WNBA and he never gave you a chance to explain. Could you tell us here? Thanks and go Mystics!

Sheila Johnson: This is very important, ever since I've taken on the ownership of the team, it's been a real eye-opening experience. There's an inequality between women and men's sports. Facilities, salary, media exposure -- locally and nationally -- we are not where we should be. The golf world is getting some more exposure, but my job is to help not just the Mystics, but the whole WNBA...getting the proper respect we deserve.

We can have women being put down. I get men telling me once a woman can throw down a slam dunk, then I'll watch. But we have our own game, and we play real team basketball and that is the fact. And when I get men at the games, they see that. They say to me, "this is real good ball." So this is what we need to do, and get it where our great players are celebrated like the hot-shot NBA players. We also need to get our community appearances upgraded. We want to work with the young people and families and foster education...not as a ploy ...but as a real way to reach out. Marketing is key....the women are great, great athletes and people.

We also need to get the sponsorships up. I'm hoping to get 20 of the most powerful women in Washington involved in promoting us and sponsoring us. We have many plans in the works. And like I said at the beginning, we need to fix up our lockerroom facilities. That is a way to attract the best players, by having great facilities. The Liberty have great facilities and we need to get that too.

mike, washington dc: Dr. Johnson, Ok, did you watch the NBA Draft or the BET Awards last night?

Sheila Johnson: I was at the game in Charlotte with my Mystics. And we beat Charlotte 66-61 and I was there to support my girls! I did not watch BET Awards, I was supporting our team!

MoBeard, Alexandria: Dr. Johnson, first let me say what a joy it is to see the owners box lite up and full of life! My question is, do you have any interaction with the players? Do you go to the locker room after games, talk to them individual, go to any practices? They really seem to enjoy playing for you!

Sheila Johnson: I love this question. Games usually start at 7, and I get to the lockerroom about an hour or two beforehand, sometimes we go to chapel together beforehand. And, after the game, I'm in there too....win or lose. It's harder after a loss, because these girls really put it all out there and try their best and they feel it when they lose. But I'm there to support them...either way. That's what it's all about here.

Alabama Girl (DC): How about some fashion variety for the fans: a home game where the Mystics wear their much nicer away uniforms?

Sheila Johnson: Ha-ha (Laughing). It's interesting you asked that. I'm on the board for the Parsons School of Design, and I'm talking with the WNBA about maybe upgrading our uniforms. We have some really beautiful women and we should have great uniforms on them. It's on our to-do list. The thing is, we don't have the money of the NBA, and we need sponsors to come in...and then with those monies, we can then make these upgrades and do alot more.

Dee (Providence RI): Hi Dr. Johnson, My question for you is...Where does Pat Summitt fit into your system for the Mystics?

Sheila Johnson: Pat Summitt is a consultant for us. She watches our games, and consults with our coaching staff and players. She may also help us with the draft. We've spoken on the phone and I can't wait to meet her and she will be remaining with us as a valued consultant.

Natalie, State College, PA: Welcome to the Mystics! How do you feel about now being a role model for young girls in the TV and Sports world?

Sheila Johnson: I'm very flattered to even be thought of as a role model. That's a tall order and I take it very seriously. I know girls are watching me and I will always present myself with integrity and character. If I can do that, I think I've accomplished something. I don't like the potrayals of women in the media and how men treat them. I hope that women can get into their spiritual side and evaluate themselves and their goals and understand how valuable woman our to our world. Women are put on this Earth for a reason, and we need to embrace the incredible human beings we are.

Toora Fairfax: what did you want to be when you grow up?

Sheila Johnson: Ha-ha (Laughing) I was a musician from when I was five-years-old. I wanted to play in a symphony, which I did. I was never the best, but I became a credible violinist. But then as life happens, you get detours. Then there was BET, and I got thrown a curveball at the end of BET, and I had to take control of my own life, personally and professionally. You can have dreams and aspirations in life...and you can hang onto those. But for some people those dreams change...and you can just go for that too.

Alexandria, VA: Dr. Johnson, congratulations on such a monumental feat. My question to you is how do we get more of the male fan base to take the WNBA seriously? Go Mystics!

Sheila Johnson: One of the things I'm doing..I'm friends with Charles Mann, and Art Monk and Darryl Green. And they have daughters. And Charles brought some AAU kids to a game and they had a great time. Once we get men to the games, they really see how terrific it is. And our top Wizards players show up at our games too, and those players love our games, they really do. We just need to get that out there into the media. These NBA guys love our games.

Sheila Johnson: Thanks to everyone for sending in your questions. Thanks for your support. We are in a transition stage now, and keep coming to our games and try and get your friends to come to our games. We're doing everything we can here so we can make it an exciting thing, to come and see your Mystics play great basketball against great competition. Thank you all again.