DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University 2010 graduate Joy Cheek has signed a contract with the Washington Mystics, which was announced by General Manager and Head Coach Trudi Lacey. 

Cheek, who played for Indiana last year averaging 2.1 points per game in seven contests, will join four other Duke graduates on the Washington squad.  Alana Beard, Monique Currie, Jasmine Thomas and Karima Christmas are also on the Mystics team.   

The Mystics have opened with a slow start as they currently stand 1-5 with both Currie and Beard sidelined.  Currie tore her ACL in the offseason and is expected to miss the entire season, while Beard hurt her foot prior to the regular season started and has missed all six games.  The team has been granted a medical hardship from the WNBA due to injuries to both Beard and Currie. Beard has been sidelined with a foot sprain while Currie is out for the season with an ACL tear.

Cheek was a 2010 draft selection by the Indiana Fever.  As a senior at Duke, Cheek averaged 9.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists as she started all 36 contests for the Blue Devils.  She was named to the Memphis Regional All-Tournament team, All-ACC Tournament First Team, All-ACC Third Team and was a finalist for the Lowe's Senior Class Award.

Duke now owns eight alums on current WNBA rosters -- Beard (Washington), Currie (Washington), Thomas (Washington), Christmas (Washington), Cheek (Washington), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta), Alison Bales (Atlanta) and Krystal Thomas (Seattle).

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