WASHINGTON – Saturday was almost like another night at Comcast Center. There were Terrapin jerseys and plenty of red worn by those in attendance. Coach Brenda Frese was near the sidelines yelling and clapping, and three all-time Terrapin women’s basketball greats – Marissa Coleman, Crystal Langhorne and Kristi Toliver – were out on the floor.
But unlike in Comcast, they were playing against each other. Toliver was wearing the sky blue and yellow jersey of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, Langhorne sported her Washington Mystics’ uniform and Coleman sat on the Mystics’ bench with crutches while nursing a high ankle sprain.
For the second straight year, the Verizon Center became the site of a Terps reunion. Last season it was Langhorne’s Mystics hosting fellow rookie Laura Harper and the Sacramento Monarchs. This time aroundToliver and Coleman joined the fray.
“Every year it’s just a special moment,” Frese said. “Now, going on to the next level, [they have reached] the dream that they have always wanted to pursue. They are now living it out.”
The Mystics jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead in front a crowd of 11,745. Then Chicago and Washington both went to sub in Terps, Toliver for the Sky and Langhorne for the Mystics.
Both players received a roaring ovation. Langhorne is used to the warm reception, but, with Toliver in town, it was louder than usual.
“All those Maryland fans and all that love, it was like being back at Comcast,” Langhorne said.
“All three [of us] were looking forward to it,” Toliver said. “It’s good that they came out to not only support the Mystics but myself.”
While all three starred as Terps and catapulted the program to a national championship in 2006, they are still finding their way in the WNBA. Saturday’s game showed development.
Coming off the bench for the Sky, Toliver made some of her trademark flashy passes and racked up three assists. She also finished with 13 points.
But the former catalyst for the Terps also showed some growing pains. Toliver committed four turnovers and hit just 1-of-5 three-point shot attempts.
“The length, the speed, the athleticism of the league and with the 11-man roster – it’s the best of the best playing every night,” Toliver said. “It’s a challenge and great to play against that kind of competition night in and night out.”
Last year’s ACC Player of the Year has had a tougher time getting minutes and contributing – averaging just more than 12 minutes per game to go along with 7.3 points and 2.4 assists.
“Every team is different based on the needs and what’s available,” Frese said. “She just needs to be patient and let the game come to herself.”
Meanwhile, Coleman burst onto the scene by leading the Mystics in scoring in their season opener. Coleman was averaging 12.7 points per game this season and rumors of rookie-of-the-year honors started floating around.
But her rookie season has also put Coleman into an unfamiliar position, sidelined with a high ankle sprain. Coleman has never had to miss significant time in high school or college.
“I told her, her body must have needed a rest from the long season,” Frese said. “She will come back after the injury just as dominating as she was before.”
In one sequence, Toliver met the driving Langhorne in the paint and fouled her former teammate, a play both laughed about afterward.
Toliver and Langhorne both played important minutes down the stretch in Saturday’s game, but former Duke star Alana Beard was the difference as she scored 31 points to lead the Mystics over the Sky 81-72.
At the end of the game though, the reunion was back on. While both teams were in their final huddles before leaving the court, Toliver and Langhorne lingered. They were making dinner plans then scurried back to their respective teams, for the first time to different locker rooms.
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