On Tuesday, in an event that featured a whirlwind of excitement, laughter and enthusiasm, the Washington Mystics traveled to Millbrook High School in Winchester, VA for a traveling practice day and youth basketball clinic. A human tunnel of kids welcomed the team to the school, and after dishing out high fives on their way in, the Mystics held an hour and a half practice on the high school court in front of a gathering of attentive students and parents. After practice, the fun began as the team invited all those in attendance to participate in a basketball clinic, offering the chance for children of all ages to both enjoy themselves and learn basketball skills from some of the best teachers around.
After dividing the kids into groups based on age, Ivory Latta, Natasha Cloud, Kayla Thornton and Tayler Hill took the younger kids, leading them to a side court to work on their agility and speed. Using drills involving cones and ladders, Latta and company had the younger kids laughing and running like crazy as the Mystics players cheered them on and chased them from behind. Meanwhile, on the main court, the rest of the Mystics players and older kids worked on a multitude of basketball-specific skills, including dribbling, passing, and shooting. With Kara Lawson leading the way as her fellow teammates offered encouragement to the kids, the older children learned how to perfect Lawson’s patented between-the-legs and behind-the-back dribbling skills and were taught new drills, combining dribbling and passing, to simulate real-game scenarios.
For Makayla Firebaugh, a twelve year-old Winchester native and aspiring basketball player, it was physically apparent from the grin painted across her face the entire time just how much she was enjoying herself, the different drills, and getting to be around WNBA players.
“The most fun part was definitely doing the drills and seeing how fun they all are. It was also really neat getting to meet and play with such cool and nice professional basketball players,” she commented, adding, “I thought it was pretty cool that the Mystics would even come here because we’re not that big of a town, so for them to come here really means a lot.”
The impact this gesture and trip by the Mystics had on the people of the remote town of Winchester did not go unnoticed by the adults that were present either. Debby Sanders, the former girls’ basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Millbrook High, was a supervisor at the event. She mentioned the great impact of this event, saying, “For [the Mystics] to stop after their practice and interact with these kids just speaks volumes. These are great role models for younger kids and all these kids who have watched these guys come through the college ranks and now the pros. These kids aspire to be like them. So I think it’s awesome that they get down and demonstrate and give some of their knowledge.”
But more than anything, it was the Mystics players themselves who seemed to be enjoying the event a great deal, giving back and helping these kids learn the game of basketball they all love. Ally Malott, who assisted Lawson with the older kids, noted, “I remember when I was their age, pretty much seeing any older kid that played basketball, you kind of looked up to them, so I think it’s really important to give back in that regard. People did that for me, and I want to return the favor. It’s awesome, I like working with kids.”
Tayler Hill fully agreed, adding how fun it was seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces as the players interacted with them. “Seeing [the kids’] reactions today was by far the most fun part… Seeing how hard they went and how excited they got when we encouraged them was awesome.”
Although some of the players (not including Malott, a rookie and most recently removed from high school) noted it was a little strange playing in a high school gym again, they all agreed the traveling practice and basketball clinic were overwhelming successes. After ending the day with an autograph session, the teaching of the Mystics’ team clap, and the distribution of free tickets to a future Mystics home game for all the kids in attendance, it was finally time for the Mystics players to board the bus home and part ways with their many new, young friends. Although the day eventually had to come to an end, the memories formed from this rewarding event will certainly last long into the future.