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 basketball team for women. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was based in Orlando, Florida. They started playing in the 1999 WNBA season. In 2003, the team moved to Uncasville, Connecticut. There, they changed their name to the Connecticut Sun. The Orlando Miracle was like a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic.
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Team History: The Orlando Miracle Story
The city of Orlando got a new WNBA team in 1998. The team was named the Orlando Miracle. They played their first game in the 1999 WNBA season.
The Miracle played well during their four years in Orlando (1999–2002). They made it to the playoffs once in 2000. However, they lost in the first round to the Cleveland Rockers. In 2001, the team hosted the 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2002, the Miracle had an equal number of wins and losses (16-16). But they did not make it to the playoffs that year. The 2002 season was their last in Orlando.
Moving to Connecticut: A New Beginning
After the 2002 WNBA season, the NBA decided to sell all the WNBA teams. The owner of the Orlando Magic, Rich DeVos, did not want to keep the Miracle team. No one in Orlando wanted to buy the team either. So, in January 2003, a Native American group 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 inspired by the tribe's Mohegan Sun casino. The new name and logo were similar to another WNBA team, the Miami Sol. That team also stopped playing around the same time as the Miracle.
Team Uniforms: What They Wore
- 1999–2002: For home games, the players 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 and white "Miracle" logo text. The Miracle logo was also on the shorts.
Team Players: Who Played for the Miracle
Final Roster: The Last Team Members
The last team roster for the Orlando Miracle included these players:
- Davalyn Cunningham
- Cintia dos Santos
- Katie Douglas
- Jessie Hicks
- Adrienne Johnson
- Shannon Johnson
- Clarisse Machanguana
- Tiffany McCain
- Carla McGhee
- Taj McWilliams
- Wendy Palmer-Daniel
- Nykesha Sales
- Brooke Wyckoff
The head coach was Dee Brown. The assistant coaches were Vonn Read and Valerie Still.
Former Players: Other Miracle Stars
Many talented players were part of the Orlando Miracle team. Some of them include:
- 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)
- Monica "Monee" Sheppard
Team Coaches and Managers
Head Coaches: Leading the Team
The Orlando Miracle had two head coaches during its time:
- Carolyn Peck (1998–2002): She coached the team for four seasons.
- Dee Brown (2002): He coached for one season.
General Managers: Building the Team
The general managers were in charge of the team's operations and players:
- Carolyn Peck (1999–2002)
- Dee Brown (2002)
Assistant Coaches: Helping the Team Grow
Assistant coaches helped the head coach and players:
- Rick Stukes (1999–2000)
- Charlene Thomas-Swinson (1999–2001)
- Michael Peck (2001)
- Vonn Read (2002)
- Valerie Still (2002)
