Former Terrapin, the Team's Top Draft Pick, Looks Impressive in Early
Stages of Camp (Washington Post)

Since Maryland lost to Stanford in the NCAA women's basketball
tournament in early April, Crystal Langhorne's life has moved at a
breakneck pace. First there was the WNBA draft, then a two-week stint
with the U.S. national team that took her from Chicago to Beijing.

And yesterday, just a day after returning from China, the sixth
overall draft pick joined Washington Mystics training camp at Trinity
University.

"The past few weeks have been the craziest of my life," Langhorne
said. "Playing with the U.S. team and veterans like Lisa Leslie and
Katie Smith was amazing, but I'm really so happy to be back, ready to
get settled and become part of this team."

There's no time to waste as Langhorne rapidly becomes a regular part
of the Mystics' makeup, adapting to new teammates and coaches -- and
the plays Coach Tree Rollins handed the rookie when she arrived.
Luckily, Langhorne said, Washington's style is similar to the
Terrapins' and includes many familiar plays, with different names.

"I got about 30 plays today," Langhorne said. "But as I go along and
as more players come in from overseas I'll be able to pick things up
pretty fast."

Nothing seemed to hamper Maryland's all-time leading scorer and
rebounder much in her first day of camp. Coming off a senior season
in which she averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game,
Langhorne lived up to expectations as she and Nikki Blue connected
repeatedly in yesterday's scrimmages.

"It's amazing," said Blue, who added that Langhorne's play stood out
when she went to a game between Maryland and UCLA this past season.

"The first hour she's here I probably had three assists to her," Blue
said. "I'll be running the fast break and she'll beat me down the
court -- as a post player. You don't see that too often. I'm
definitely a fan already and I'm excited to play with her."

Rollins said he was impressed with Langhorne's maturity and ability
to provide an instant spark to practice while working well with
Washington's two remaining point guards.

The team cut veteran Rita Williams in favor of Blue, last season's
backup, and free agent signee Amber Jacobs. Blue, who is entering her
third WNBA season, is more of a fast-break guard while Jacobs, a
proven shooter beginning her fifth season, excels in more set-style
offenses.

"I encouraged them to take over this team," said Rollins, adding that
both will see playing time regardless of who emerges as the
starter. "To gain respect from their teammates as a point guard and
while admitting that they're young, they need to go out there and
demand that they're the leader on the court."

Mystics Notes: Forwards Meg Bulger and Michelle Stueve and center
Danielle Hutcheson were also cut yesterday. Camp invitees Tierre
Wilson and Kalika France were waived late last week. Forward Nakia
Sanford and guard Tamara James, both members of last year's squad,
are expected to practice with the team today, and newly acquired
forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin will join the team tomorrow before
the Mystics travel to Tampa for the remainder of their training camp.
Washington plays its first preseason game against the Sacramento
Monarchs on May 5 in Tampa.