Charlotte, N.C. ? Chamique Holdsclaw set a WNBA record with 24 rebounds to lead the Washington Mystics to a 74-70, season-opening win Friday over the Charlotte Sting.

Holdsclaw also had 22 points as the Mystics spoiled the first game for Charlotte under new owner Bob Johnson.

“I think they got her fired up by challenging her early on,” Washington coach Marianne Stanley said of Holdsclaw. “After that it was like, ‘School is out.'”

The previous rebounding record was 21, held by four players. The last to do it was Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks in a victory over Orlando last July 22.

Johnson, the Washington billionaire who took over the Sting as part of his $300 million deal to own Charlotte’s NBA expansion franchise, received a standing ovation from the crowd of 11,910 when he was introduced at midcourt just before the game.

“I told the Sting in our locker room, ‘This is our first dance, so let’s give them something to talk about,”‘ Johnson said.

But with Johnson watching from a front-row seat, the Mystics jumped to a 32-19 lead, thanks to Holdsclaw’s dominance inside.

Mystics 74, Sting 70

WASHINGTON (74)

Holdsclaw 11-26 0-0 22, Dales-Schuman 6-10 4-4 20, Page 1-9 2-4 4, Burgess 3-10 0-0 8, C.Miller 4-11 2-2 10, Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Henning 0-1 0-0 0, Washington 0-1 0-0 0, Luz 0-0 0-0 0, Sanford 1-3 2-3 4, A.Smith 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 29-77 10-13 74.

CHARLOTTE (70)

Feaster 6-13 2-2 16, Smith-Taylor 3-12 4-4 10, Sutton-Brown 2-6 0-0 4, Staley 1-5 2-4 4, Stinson 5-11 0-0 10, Enis 3-8 5-6 12, R.Brown 0-4 0-0 0, K.Miller 4-6 4-5 14, Buescher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 17-21 70.

Washington 37 37 — 74

Charlotte 27 43 — 70

3-Point Goals–Washington 6-18 (Dales-Schuman 4-6, Burgess 2-6, Holdsclaw 0-1, Page 0-1, C.Miller 0-2, A.Smith 0-2), Charlotte 5-13 (K.Miller 2-2, Feaster 2-6, Enis 1-1, Staley 0-1, Smith-Taylor 0-1, Stinson 0-2). Fouled out–None. Rebounds–Washington 51 (Holdsclaw 24), Charlotte 45 (Smith-Taylor 7). Assists–Washington 23 (Dales-Schuman 8), Charlotte 18 (Staley 9). Total fouls–Washington 21, Charlotte 18. A–11,910.