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Mystics-Dream Preview

Jun 18, 2009 - 10:29 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Washington (3-0) at Atlanta (2-2), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Chamique Holdsclaw witnessed firsthand the coaching changes and inconsistency that derailed Washington in the past. The Mystics, however, are now in a groove, and their former star is finally finding some stability of her own.

Off to the first 3-0 start in their history, the Mystics look to continue their unselfish play as they visit Holdsclaw and the Atlanta Dream on Friday night.

Holdsclaw, whom Washington selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft, experienced little success there other than a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002.

Her career has taken several twists.

The veteran forward was traded by the Mystics in 2004 after a bout with clinical depression, left the league in 2007 due to a knee injury after two fulfilling seasons in Los Angeles, and carried on her career in Poland before signing with Atlanta (2-2) this past offseason.

Holdsclaw is averaging 13.5 points and 1.8 steals for the Dream, who appear improved after going 4-30 as an expansion team in 2008. She began her career with a Mystics franchise that now has its 11th coach in 12 seasons, with just four playoff appearances during that span.

Now, though, Washington is the league's only undefeated team and is coming off a 75-69 win over defending champion Detroit on Wednesday night.

"I expect a lot of our team," Mystics first-year coach Julie Plank said. "I've said from day one we have a lot of depth and our bench is key for us."

Washington's strong start includes a 77-71 home win over Atlanta on June 7. Holdsclaw was the only Dream starter to score in double figures in that game, finishing with 12 points, while Mystics veteran Alana Beard had a game-high 27.

Beard is averaging a team-high 16.3 points, but she hasn't had to carry the club. Seven Washington players are posting at least 7.0 points per contest.

The Mystics are averaging 78.0 points, with reserves Marissa Coleman, Matee Ajavon, Crystal Langhorne and Tasha Humphrey combining for 34.7.

"We can play a lot of people against any team, it doesn't matter who they have," Plank said. "I think our depth is a lot better than the teams in this league and that's something I can be proud of."

Washington didn't record its third win until its 10th game last season, and its 13th contest of 2007.

Atlanta set a WNBA mark for a futile start as an expansion club last year, when it lost its first 17 games, but is now just one victory away from its third of 2009. Sancho Lyttle had 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Dream to a 67-62 win over Connecticut on Sunday.

Lyttle, making her first start of the season, had eight points in the fourth quarter. She's averaging 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks through the first four games.

"She's been getting better and better," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said.