Orlando Miracle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orlando Miracle |
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| Conference | Eastern | ||
| Leagues | WNBA | ||
| Founded | 1999 | ||
| History | Orlando Miracle 1999–2002 Connecticut Sun 2003–present |
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| Arena | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||
| Location | Orlando, Florida | ||
| Team colors | Electric Blue, White, QuickSilver, Magic Black |
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| Uniforms | |||
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The Orlando Miracle was a professional women's basketball team. They played in the WNBA, which is a top league for women's basketball in the United States. The team was based in Orlando, Florida. They started playing in the 1999 WNBA season. In 2003, the team moved to Uncasville, Connecticut, and changed its name to the Connecticut Sun. The Orlando Miracle was like a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic.
Contents
Team History
Starting in Orlando
The city of Orlando got a new WNBA team in 1998. The team was named the Orlando Miracle. They began playing in the 1999 WNBA season.
The Miracle had good records during their four years in Orlando (1999–2002). They made it to the playoffs once, in 2000. In that playoff run, they lost in the first round to the Cleveland Rockers.
In 2001, the team hosted the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. This was a big event where the best players in the league came together. In 2002, the Miracle finished with an equal number of wins and losses (16-16). However, they just missed the playoffs that year. The 2002 season turned out to be their last in Orlando.
Moving to Connecticut
After the 2002 WNBA season, the NBA decided to sell all of its WNBA teams. The owner of the Orlando Magic, Rich DeVos, was not interested in keeping the Miracle team. No one else in Orlando wanted to buy the team either.
So, in January 2003, a Native American tribe from Connecticut, called the Mohegan Tribe, bought the team. The new owners moved the team to Uncasville, Connecticut. They changed the team's name to the Sun. This new name was a nod to the tribe's casino, the Mohegan Sun.
Team Uniforms
From 1999 to 2002, the Orlando Miracle had specific uniforms.
- For home games, they wore white uniforms. These had blue on the sides and shoulders. The team's "Miracle" logo was in white text on the chest.
- For away games, they wore blue uniforms. These had white on the sides. The "Miracle" logo was also in white text on the chest.
- The team's main logo was always on the shorts for both home and away uniforms.
Key Players
Many talented players were part of the Orlando Miracle. Here are some of the players who played for the team:
- Cintia dos Santos (2000–2002)
- Katie Douglas (2001–2002)
- Jessie Hicks (2000–2002)
- Adrienne Johnson (1999–2002)
- Shannon Johnson (1999–2002)
- Carla McGhee (1999–2002)
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin (1999–2002)
- Elaine Powell (1999–2002)
- Nykesha Sales (1999–2002)
- Brooke Wyckoff (2001–2002)
Coaches and Managers
Head Coaches
The Orlando Miracle had two head coaches during its time in Orlando:
- Carolyn Peck was the head coach from July 1998 to April 2002. She coached for four seasons.
- Dee Brown took over in April 2002 and coached for the team's final season.
General Managers
The general manager helps run the team and makes decisions about players.
- Carolyn Peck (1999-2002)
- Dee Brown (2002)
Assistant Coaches
Assistant coaches help the head coach with training and strategy.
- Rick Stukes (1999–2000)
- Charlene Thomas-Swinson (1999–2001)
- Michael Peck (2001)
- Vonn Read (2002)
- Valerie Still (2002)
Images for kids
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Miracle alternative logo
