Holdsclaw reflecting on future of career

PHILADELPHIA — When Washington Mystics all-star forward Chamique Holdsclaw mysteriously removed herself from the WNBA team at midseason, there was much speculation that she might be suffering from depression.

So it was hardly startling news late last week when the former Tennessee All-American revealed to the Washington Post and USA Today that she indeed had been dealing with the illness, spawned by the death of her grandmother a year ago and her grandfather earlier this year, and was under the care of a psychiatrist.

Although she didn’t attribute any of her depression to the Mystics’ mostly woeful record since her arrival in Washington in 1999 as the overall No. 1 WNBA draft pick, Holdsclaw has experienced a revolving door of coaches and mostly losing seasons.

Until then, she had dominated powerhouse squads in college and at Christ the King High School in her native New York City.

In interviews last week, Holdsclaw said she had regained the passion for basketball that she lost in the grip of depression and would attempt to play in Europe this winter to help decide whether to continue her WNBA career or retire.

Holdsclaw said that she had withdrawn from sports during her depression and did not watch her team on TV in the playoffs.

Holdsclaw deserves much sympathy, but there are associated issues to consider, such as the conduct of management officials in the Washington organization involving Holdsclaw’s absence from the team.

Susan O’Malley, president of Washington Sports and Entertainment, which is the umbrella entity for the NBA Wizards, the NHL Capitals and the Mystics, told the Post that Holdsclaw was a very private person and that the organization wanted to respect her plea for confidentiality.

Management even kept the star’s condition from first-year coach Michael Adams, who went on to rally the team on a run to the playoffs.

Even WNBA officials apparently were kept out of the loop, although the league was criticized for allowing one of its best stars to disappear without a reason, something that rarely happens in the NBA.

The Mystics’ desire to do good by Holdsclaw resulted in a public relations nightmare, touching off all manner of gossip.

The team characterized her illness as a “minor medical condition” that wasn’t life-threatening.

Since when is depression a minor medical issue?

When reporters from several news organizations visited Holdsclaw at a camp she was running in Northern Virginia to learn when she might return, she turned them aside, but told them to keep writing about her “because I love to read my name in the newspapers.”

Holdsclaw said he she had decided to reveal her illness to show that there is no shame in depression and to put an end to speculation about her absence.

If Holdsclaw does play overseas this winter, her performance will be the key to whether she ever again appears in a WNBA uniform, whether for the Mystics or another team.

Some believe that last week’s revelation was the beginning of a process that might encourage other teams to try to trade for the former Olympian, should the Mystics decide that a fresh start elsewhere might be best for Holdsclaw.

Although Holdsclaw’s revelation cleared up much about her situation, much still remains to play out. The summer-long drama is guaranteed to extend deep into the winter.