Former Hernando High star returns home with WNBA team

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
In print: Friday, May 9, 2008

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TAMPA — Celebrating just moments after her Washington Mystics teammates pulled out an overtime exhibition win against Sacramento on Monday night, Bernice Mosby paused for a moment when asked the last time she'd gone this long without at least practicing basketball.

"I think never," said Mosby, sidelined since November as she recovers from knee surgery. "You love the game so much, you want to play so hard; it's hard not to be able to."

Monday's game at the University of Tampa's Bob Martinez Sports Center was a welcome homecoming for the former Hernando High standout, even if she wasn't able to play. The team spent five days training in Palm Harbor, and Monday's crowd included friends and family members who drove down from Brooksville, including former Hernando coaches John Miller and Pete Lahey.

"I don't get home a lot, but just to be here, to see my family support the team I play for, it means a lot," Mosby said.

Her second WNBA season will start May 17, though Mosby likely won't be able to play until early next month. She still walked with a slight limp Monday, still recovering from a knee injury she aggravated while playing professionally in Greece. She had torn the lateral meniscus in her knee late in her rookie season with the Mystics, then saw the injury worsen during her time in Athens.

"I feel great. I'm coming back stronger. My rehab's coming along very well," said Mosby, who is slowly returning to practice with the Mystics.

Once healthy, Mosby's goal is to spend even less time on the Mystics' bench. She was a first-round draft pick for Washington after her senior year at Baylor, yet struggled in the transition to the pro game, averaging just 3 points and 2.8 rebounds as a rookie while playing about 10 minutes per game.

"I'm looking to be more productive in everything I do. I want to have more confidence," she said. "The first year was kind of rough, just getting used to everything."

Mosby showed flashes of promise last season, getting 13 points and 13 rebounds in a game against Phoenix, but wants fewer ups and downs this year.

"Staying consistent throughout the whole year was (tough) for me," she said. "I'd have a 14-point game, then sometimes zero-point games, so I'm trying to just stay consistent."

Mosby has settled into her new life, enjoying Washington, D.C., and finding friends in her teammates, such as guard Nikki Blue, who played at UCLA but first met Mosby when they took official visits to Connecticut the same weekend as high school seniors. She's optimistic about improving this season, but realistic about her role as well.

"I have a lot of great players ahead of me," Mosby said. "Whatever this team needs me for is great for me."