Holdsclaw Lifts Mystics to First Playoff Victory

WASHINGTON — For Chamique Holdsclaw, it has been a long time coming.

Four years after being selected No. 1 in the WNBA draft, Holdsclaw finally has a playoff victory. Her 26 points, 13 rebounds and five steals helped the Washington Mystics defeat the Charlotte Sting, 74-62, Thursday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

It was also the first playoff win in the Mystics’ five-year existence, ending a drought that seemed longer for such veterans as Holdsclaw and Tausha Mills. Earlier, Marianne Stanley was named the league’s coach of the year.

“I feel so blessed, man,” said Holdsclaw, flashing a broad smile. “Since I’ve been in Washington, it’s been up and down. Tausha made a comment in the locker room just now--’Hey, first time we’ve had a coach of the year, and the coach is actually favored to come back next year.’ It feels good just to have stability for once, and it’s something that’s just going to grow.”

Charlotte, seeded second in the East, will play host to the Mystics in Game 2 of the best-of-three series on Saturday and Game 3, if necessary, on Monday. The Sting defeated the Mystics, 67-57, Tuesday in Charlotte to gain homecourt advantage for the series.

The victory broke a six-game home losing streak for the third-seeded Mystics, who had lost nine of 11 to end the season. The Sting had won four in a row.

The Mystics, who finished the regular season with a winning record (17-15) for the first time in their history, were swept in two games by New York in 2000 in their only other playoff appearance.