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This story appears in WSLAM 2. Get your copy here. When asked to describe Alysha Clark, former coaches and teammates use the word “tough.” Her finishes are tough and her defense is tough. She’s carried that grit throughout her career as a basketball player and it remains one of the driving forces that forged her WNBA career ahead.

During the Washington Mystics’ practice on June 18, the day before a game against the Connecticut Sun, wing Alysha Clark took charge as her team practiced defending Connecticut’s pick-and-roll offense. Clark was the on-ball defender against a horns set, which involves two ball screens near the top of the key. She stopped the drill and instructed teammates Elena Delle Donne and Elizabeth Williams, who were guarding the screeners, exactly how to position themselves so she could maneuver around them and the screens and stay with her matchup.

There are several names in this week's article that have been in this space previously, some as recently as last week. And that's not even including players like Aari McDonald, Marine Johannes and AD Durr that very easily could have been included as well. There is some good talent that...

SEATTLE — There was a line waiting for Alysha Clark as the Mystics finished their shoot-around Thursday morning at Climate Pledge Arena. The Seattle Storm walked onto the court for its session, and many Storm players — Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, among others — made a beeline to hug their former teammate.

Wednesday night was a pivotal one for the Washington Mystics for many reasons. A win over the defending champion Chicago Sky and the first injury scare of the season for Elena Delle Donne are of course going to take all the headlines. But underlying both of those important storylines is the resurgence of Alysha Clark and her best offensive outing since the 2019 season.

Alysha Clark was having trouble sleeping. With each passing day, she was a little bit closer to returning to the Washington Mystics from a foot injury that kept her out for all of 2021. The two-time WNBA champion said Thursday that it felt like the first day of school and she simply hoped that she wouldn’t cry, calling herself “such a sap.”

On Monday evening, the Washington Mystics introduced point guard Rui Machida to the media. In her availability, Machida said that one of the things attracting her to the team was that both Washington and Fujitsu RedWave, her team in Japan, both play a similar style of basketball offensively and defensively.

Two-time WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne and two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark are still making their way back from injuries that kept them out for most or all of the 2021 WNBA season, but are being incorporated into practice as the Washington Mystics kick off training camp this week ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Alysha Clark is alone on the practice courts inside the Entertainment and Sports Arena at 9 a.m. sharp, and this particular Tuesday is considered a late start for the two-time WNBA champion. Sporting Mystics gear from head to toe — blue shirt, red shorts, blue league logo socks pulled to her calf — the former Mt. Juliet High star goes through stretches as others arrive to the building. She’s already put in 30 minutes of prep work ahead of an hour on the court and a weight-room session with a physical therapist.

Alysha Clark is alone on the practice courts inside the Entertainment and Sports Arena at 9 a.m. sharp, and this particular Tuesday is considered a late start for the two-time WNBA champion. Sporting Mystics gear from head to toe - blue shirt, red shorts, blue league logo socks pulled to her calf - Clark goes through stretches as others arrive to the building. She's already put in 30 minutes of prep work ahead of an hour on the court and a weight-room session with a physical therapist.

Photos by GEORGE PAGE • The Lebanon Democrat Above left: Mt. Juliet High principal Beverly Sharpe presents a sign to former Lady Bear star Alysha Clark honoring her as Pro Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Her former MJ coach, Chris Fryer, applauds as current coach Joseph Hiett looks on during last Friday’s game against Father Ryan. Above right: Surrounded by sister Ajia (left) and parents Kenneth and Jan, Alysha Clark holds the sign honoring her as Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Pro Athlete of the Year. Clark was a starting wing player for the Seattle Storm as they won their second WNBA championship in three years in 2020. The former Mt. Juliet High star, who led the Lady Bears to the 2005 TSSAA state championship, was part of four conference championships in college before winning several Euroleague pro titles as a professional in addition to her two WNBA crowns.

WNBA player Alysha Clark said Monday that she tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the Seattle Storm's 2020 WNBA title team's trip to the White House. The team was scheduled to make the trip to Washington on Monday afternoon. "I'm so sad to share that yesterday I tested positive...

Today, Seattle Storm will be the first WNBA team to visit the White House since 2016. Current Washington Mystics forward Alysha Clark was a member of the Storm last year and was scheduled to make the trip. But if missing this season was hard enough due to a foot injury, she also was a late scratch for the trip to meet U.S. President Joe Biden today due to testing positive for the coronavirus.