Darsch Resigns as Coach of Mystics; Walker Steps In

Nancy Darsch, who never hit it off with rising star Chamique Holdsclaw, resigned Friday as coach of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.

Darrell Walker, who served as interim coach with the NBA’s Washington Wizards last season, will perform the same role with the Mystics. Walker held his first practice with the Mystics late Friday.

“We were not meeting the goals I set for myself or the team,” Darsch said in a statement released by the team. “I felt there was a need for new leadership. There needed to be a change, so I made the decision to step down.”

Darsch, who did not inform the players of the news herself, led the Mystics to a 12-20 record last season, a vast improvement from 3-27 the previous year.

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Phoenix Mercury forward Brandy Reed was added to the Western Conference All-Star team, quieting a storm of protests and boycott talk by Mercury fans.

Despite being the hosts for Monday night’s All-Star game at America West Arena, the Mercury had no representatives on the team until Reed was added.

“We simply had not anticipated that the team would not be represented in this year’s All-Star game by virtue of either the fans’ or coaches’ ballots,” WNBA president Val Ackerman said.