Washington Mystics

The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment (led by Ted Leonsis), who also owns the Mystics' NBA counterpart, the Washington Wizards. Sheila C. Johnson, co-founder of BET and ex-wife of Charlotte Sting owner Robert L. Johnson, is the managing partner.

While the Mystics have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in only six of its thirteen years in Washington, the franchise has been home to some high-quality players such as Tennessee standout Chamique Holdsclaw, athletic shooting guard Alana Beard, and nearby Maryland product Crystal Langhorne. The Mystics are one of three current WNBA franchises that have not made it to the WNBA Finals. However, the Mystics have made it to the playoffs 6 times, while the Chicago Sky and Tulsa Shock have yet to make the playoffs. They have only been to the Conference Finals once, losing to New York in 2002.