Washington Mystics forward Chamique Holdsclaw did not practice yesterday, raising the possibility her situation is more serious than what the team is calling a “minor medical issue.”
Holdsclaw, the WNBA’s second-leading scorer at 19 points a game, is missing for unknown reasons and her coach is apparently the last to know why. Holdsclaw is a game-time decision tonight against the Connecticut Sun (13-12) at MCI Center.
“Like I told you yesterday and the day before, she’s talked to management and she’s going through some things that I have nothing to do about. So that’s taken care of and I have no comment on it,” Mystics coach Michael Adams said.
“People have problems. ’Mique needs time, so she needs to take it,” rookie guard Alana Beard said. “We support her in everything that she does.”
The 6-foot-2 Holdsclaw is coming off two games in which she went a combined 6-for-30. With 10 games left, Holdsclaw’s vanishing act isn’t helping the last-place Mystics (10-14), who have lost five of their last six games.
Holdsclaw, 26, sat out last Saturday’s 70-41 loss at the Charlotte Sting and then missed Monday and Tuesday’s practice. She went 3-for-13 in a 73-65 loss to the Detroit Shock on Wednesday and was a no-show yesterday for practice.
“She’s obviously not here,” Adams said. “She came back for a game and was not ready to be here.”
As soon as yesterday’s practice ended, the Mystics’ public relations staff huddled with the team on the practice court and reminded the players there was not going to be anything said about Holdsclaw’s situation.
The Mystics have the second-worst record in the WNBA and even with Holdsclaw, the Mystics’ postseason chances are dicey at best.
“Anytime a team has adversity, you overcome it and you become tighter as a team,” Beard said. “I think that is exactly what this team is doing.”
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