PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. — It's an exciting time for WNBA fans as the Mystic's host their first game this season at Capital One Arena. The ladies hosted the Chicago Sky Thursday.
In honor of the game WUSA9 is highlighting a Prince George's County native who returned home to play against the Mystics.
"That's the New York Liberty, the team that first drafted her," father, Terrell Allen said as he pointed to a framed poster in Lindsay Allen's bedroom.
Terrell Allen and Lorna Wilson-Allen are proud parents of their daughter, Lindsay Allen.
The excitement in her parent's voices makes it feel like all this happened just yesterday but in fact, all the awards dressed as decorations in their daughter's room are nothing new.
"This is an award she won from Notre Dame," Allen said while showing off all his daughter's awards.
"It's exciting because there are only 144, positions, [in the WNBA]" mother, Lorna Wilson-Allen said.
Lindsay is home Thursday playing at Capital One Arena as a point guard for the Chicago Sky.
The journey for her to get to this point started 29 years ago.
"We didn't know that she would make it this far. We saw that she had talent," Terrell Allen said.
Her parents said they didn't imagine all of this from the beginning.
"You'll see here the soccer trophies, volleyball trophies, baseball, we threw a lot at them hoping that something would stick," Allen said.
Out of all the sports she played, it was basketball that Lindsay Allen stuck with.
"Really when she started playing with the boys she started playing with her brother, on her brothers’ team I guess she was seven, he was nine, because they didn't have any girls’ teams. And when she went to the girls team, she was a little more advanced than the rest of the girls, so we said 'hey we might have something here'," Allen said.
Her parents said, from there her career skyrocketed.
"WCAC Player of the Year, Gatorade Player of the Year, All-American players," Wilson-Allen said.
As her jump shot got sharper more recognition dribbled her way. She played at St. John's High School and was just recently inducted into the hall of fame in 2023. Then she got drafted by the New York Liberty
"When we heard her name on the loudspeaker it was pretty exciting," Terrell Allen said.
She's also played overseas in Moscow, Poland and Australia.
"I was just interested in seeing her in that foreign environment and she had a lot of success," Terrell Allen said. "She won a championship in Australia, that was a real exciting time."
Now, her family is preparing to cheer her on right here at home.
"It'll be interesting to see her with this team, especially.. with all the rookies and all the increased attention that they had to move the game," Terrell Allen said.
"It's interesting because years ago, we weren't even sure the WNBA was going to survive... and it has been phenomenal," Wilson- Allen said. "To see the attention, they're gaining and the accolades and the media, [it's] pretty special."
The Allen family expressed excitement before and after the game after the Chicago Sky beat the Mystics in Washington. Overall, her parents said they're just happy to see her here playing at such a highly anticipated game and inspiring the next generation of athletes.