UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -Rookie Marissa Coleman scored 16 points and the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 82-70 on Saturday in the season opener.

Monique Currie scored 14 points, Lindsey Harding added 12, and Nakia Sanford had 11 for the Mystics, who also outrebounded Connecticut 44-26.

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Coleman was 6-for-9 from the field and made all four of her 3-pointers.

``She's awesome,' Washington coach Julie Plank said of Coleman, who played at Maryland. ``She does it all. We count on her three ball and she's not afraid to take shots.'

Asjha Jones led Connecticut with 22 points. Lindsay Whalen had 21 and Kiesha Brown had 10.

Washington built a 17-point lead before seeing it cut to six by the start of the fourth quarter. The Mystics scored the first six points of the final period to put the game away.

It was the first win in Plank's head coaching career.

``I'm excited for our franchise,' Plank said. ``I love this team. I think we can get better and better. It's a great start for us.'

The Sun, who missed 25 of their first 34 shots, shot 36 percent for the game.

``I think they wanted it more than we did,' Sun guard Erin Phillips said.