(By Kathy Orton, Special to The Washington Post, Tuesday, July 2,
2002; Page D01)

An MRI exam yesterday revealed more damage in Chamique Holdsclaw's
ankle than initially diagnosed, which means the all-star forward will
miss the Washington Mystics' next five games and possibly the WNBA
All-Star Game at MCI Center.

"It's more serious than what we had thought," said Mystics senior
vice president of business and basketball operations Judy Holland-
Burton.

"We're going to take it day-to-day."

Holdsclaw, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, sprained her left
ankle in the first half of the Mystics' loss in Portland on Friday
night and was placed on the injury list Sunday after an examination
by the team doctor.

Yesterday's MRI did not reveal any ligament damage, Holland-Burton
said, but Holdsclaw does not have any mobility in the ankle.

"Right now, she can't put any weight on it," Holland-Burton said.

Using a crutch to get around, Holdsclaw was on the sidelines during
Sunday's win over Charlotte. Her ankle was heavily bandaged, but she
will be fitted for a walking boot today.

During Holdsclaw's absence, the Mystics will play Minnesota,
Indianapolis, Orlando, Phoenix and New York. The Mystics play the
Liberty two days before the July 15 All-Star Game, at which time
Holdsclaw -- a three-time all-star and the Eastern Conference's
leading vote-getter -- will be reevaluated.

This is not the first time Holdsclaw has been injured. She missed two
weeks last season -- including the all-star game -- with a stress
reaction in her right foot. That same injury also caused her to miss
the 2000 Olympic Games and hampered her during the 2000 WNBA season.

Holdsclaw began this season healthier than she had been in years. As
a result, she has enjoyed her best season as a professional. The
WNBA's leading scorer (19.9 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (11.8
rpg), she is shooting a career-best 49.5 percent from the field and
84.4 percent from the free throw line.

Forward Murriel Page -- a starter until this season -- is expected to
take her place in a starting lineup that will miss Holdsclaw's
presence but has managed to win without her.

When Holdsclaw missed two games earlier in the season because of her
grandmother's death, Washington went 1-1. On Sunday, with Holdsclaw
on the bench in street clothes, the Mystics beat Charlotte, 56-55.
With Holdsclaw in the lineup on June 19, the Sting came away with a
78-64 victory in Charlotte.

"The team will just have to dig down deep," Holland-Burton
said. "This team is more than one player."