Orlando Miracle
Encyclopedia
The Orlando Miracle was a Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) team based in Orlando, Florida
. They began play in the 1999 WNBA season
. The Miracle relocated, in 2003,to Uncasville, Connecticut
where the team became the Connecticut Sun
. The Miracle was a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic
.
The Miracle posted respectable records in their four years of existence (1999–2002). The Miracle made the playoffs once, in 2000, and lost in the first round against the Cleveland Rockers
. In 2001, the Miracle took a step backwards, but they hosted a very successful 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2002, the Miracle posted a 16-16 (.500) record, tying for the final playoff spot with the Indiana Fever
. But, the Miracle had lost the tie-breaker, so they barely missed the playoffs. Little did anyone know that the 2002 season would prove to be the Miracle's last in Orlando.
, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the teams. Magic owner Rich DeVos was not interested in keeping the Miracle, and no local ownership group emerged. In January 2003, the Connecticut-based Mohegan
Native American Tribe bought the team.
The new owners moved the team to Uncasville, Connecticut
and changed the nickname to the Sun (in reference to the tribe's Mohegan Sun
casino.) The Connecticut Sun's new nickname and logo were reminiscent of another Florida-based WNBA franchise, the Miami Sol
, which folded at the same time as the Miracle.
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) team based in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. They began play in the 1999 WNBA season
1999 WNBA season
-External links:**...
. The Miracle relocated, in 2003,to Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
where the team became the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
. The Miracle was a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
.
Franchise History
The city of Orlando was granted an expansion franchise in 1999, and the Orlando Miracle took the floor for the 1999 season.The Miracle posted respectable records in their four years of existence (1999–2002). The Miracle made the playoffs once, in 2000, and lost in the first round against the Cleveland Rockers
Cleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
. In 2001, the Miracle took a step backwards, but they hosted a very successful 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2002, the Miracle posted a 16-16 (.500) record, tying for the final playoff spot with the Indiana Fever
Indiana Fever
The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
. But, the Miracle had lost the tie-breaker, so they barely missed the playoffs. Little did anyone know that the 2002 season would prove to be the Miracle's last in Orlando.
Relocation to Connecticut
After the 2002 WNBA season2002 WNBA season
-External links:***...
, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the teams. Magic owner Rich DeVos was not interested in keeping the Miracle, and no local ownership group emerged. In January 2003, the Connecticut-based Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
Native American Tribe bought the team.
The new owners moved the team to Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
and changed the nickname to the Sun (in reference to the tribe's Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
casino.) The Connecticut Sun's new nickname and logo were reminiscent of another Florida-based WNBA franchise, the Miami Sol
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
, which folded at the same time as the Miracle.
Uniforms
- 1999–2002: For home games, white with blue on the sides and shoulders and white Miracle logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with white on the sides and white Miracle logo text on the chest. The Miracle logo is on the shorts.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Team | Conference | Regular season | Playoff WNBA Playoffs The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.... Results |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | |||||
| Orlando Miracle | |||||||
| 1999 1999 WNBA season -External links:**... |
1999 1999 Orlando Miracle season The 1999 WNBA season was the Orlando Miracle's inaugural season. The Miracle tied for second place in the conference with the Detroit Shock and the Charlotte Sting. However, both Detroit and Charlotte beat Orlando in two of their three meetings during the regular season... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
4th | 15 | 17 | .469 | |
| 2000 2000 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2000 2000 Orlando Miracle season The 2000 WNBA season was their 2nd in the league. The Miracle made to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, only to lose to the Cleveland Rockers in three games.-WNBA Draft:-Roster:-Preseason:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
3rd | 16 | 16 | .500 | Lost Conference Semifinals (Cleveland Cleveland Rockers This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which... , 1–2) |
| 2001 2001 WNBA season -External links:**... |
2001 2001 Orlando Miracle season The 2001 WNBA season was their 3rd in the league. The Miracle missed the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The Miracle also hosted the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game.-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
5th | 13 | 19 | .406 | |
| 2002 2002 WNBA season -External links:***... |
2002 2002 Orlando Miracle season The 2002 WNBA season was their 4th season and their last in Orlando. The Miracle missed out of the playoffs by losing in a tiebreaker to the Indiana Fever. It was also the final season in Orlando.-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
5th | 16 | 16 | .500 | |
| Regular season | 60 | 68 | .469 | 0 Conference Championships | |||
| Playoffs | 1 | 2 | .333 | 0 WNBA Championships | |||
Final Roster
Former Players
- Cintia dos Santos 2000-2002
- Katie DouglasKatie DouglasKathryn Elizabeth “Katie” Douglas is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever in the WNBA...
2001-2002, now a member of the Indiana FeverIndiana FeverThe Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... - Jessie Hicks 2000-2002
- Adrienne Johnson 1999-2002
- Shannon JohnsonShannon JohnsonShannon Regina Johnson is an American basketball player who last played for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA.-Career:...
1999-2002 - Carla McGheeCarla McGheeCarla McGhee was an American basketball player most notable for her career at the University of Tennessee. She was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1987 and was in a coma for 47 hours, suffering brain injuries and breaking nearly every bone in her face. She was told she’d never play again....
1999-2002, now a Director of Player Personnel for the WNBAWomen's National Basketball AssociationThe Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
front office - Taj McWilliams-Franklin 1999-2002, now a member of the Minnesota LynxMinnesota LynxThe Minnesota Lynx are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1999 season...
- Elaine PowellElaine PowellElaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
1999-2002 - Nykesha SalesNykesha SalesNykesha Simone Sales is a former professional basketball player in the WNBA, most recently for the Connecticut Sun. Her primary position is the small forward. Her second position is shooting guard. In 1999 Sales was added to the roster of the USA FIBA Senior National Team team...
1999-2002 - Brooke WyckoffBrooke WyckoffBrooke Wyckoff is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'1" forward from Florida State University, Wyckoff played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2009, competing for the Orlando Miracle, the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky...
2001-2002
Head Coaches
| Orlando Miracle head coaches | |
|---|---|
Assistant Coaches
- Rick Stukes (1999–2000)
- Charlene Thomas-SwinsonCharlene Thomas-SwinsonCharlene Thomas-Swinson was the head women's basketball coach at Tulsa, where she was let go after six seasons. Her overall record as a head coach stands at 61-86 in five seasons. The 2006 team earned the Conference USA championship, and an NCAA tournament appearance...
(1999–2001) - Michael Peck (2001)
- Vonn Read (2002)
- Valerie StillValerie StillValerie Still is a former United States professional women's basketball player with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.During her four years at the University of Kentucky, she scored more points than any other basketball player, male or female, with 2,763 points. Afterwards she went abroad, playing...
(2002)
Draft Picks
Current WNBA players are in italics.- 1999 Expansion Draft: Andrea Congreaves (2), Kisha Ford (4), Yolanda Moore (6), Adrienne Johnson (8)
- 1999 WNBA Draft: Tari Phillips (8), Sheri Sam (20), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (32), Carla McGhee (44), Elaine Powell (50)
- 2000 WNBA Draft: Cintia dos Santos (4), Jannon Roland (20), Shawnetta Stewart (36), Romona Hanzova (52)
- 2001 WNBA Draft: Katie Douglas (10), Brooke Wyckoff (26), Jaclyn Johnson (42), Anne Thorius (58)
- 2002 WNBA Draft: Davalyn Cunningham (23), Saundra Jackson (39), Tomeka Brown (55)
Trades
- April 18, 2002: The Miracle acquire Clarisse Machanguana from the Charlotte Sting for the Miracle's first-round pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.
- July 8, 2002: The Miracle acquire Wendy Palmer from the Detroit Shock for Elaine Powell.
All-Stars
- 1999: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2000: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2001: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales
- 2002: Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
Regular Season Attendance
- A sellout for a basketball game at TD Waterhouse Center is 17,248.
Regular Season All-Time Attendance