Mystics Take Haynie

With the 6th overall pick in today's WNBA dispersal draft of the now defunct Sacramento Monarchs, the Mystics selected 5' 9" guard Kristin Haynie.

Haynie, a graduate of Michigan State, was drafted 9th overall by the Monarchs in the 2005 college draft, was taken from Sacramento by the Atlanta Dream in the 2008 expansion draft, then signed as a free agent with the Shock last summer, before being traded back to the Monarchs in August. So though she's spent most of her career in Sacramento -- including picking up a WNBA Championship ring in 2005 -- Kristin's had plenty of experience adjusting to new teams, coaches and systems. We expect that Kristin will be competing for the role of backup PG on the Mystics.

The full dispersal draft list is here. Several items of note: The New York Liberty, who had the first overall pick in the draft, selected Nicole Powell. DC-area native Becky Brunson went second, to the Lynx, and former Terp Laura Harper was selected by San Antonio with the fifth pick (just before the Mystics picked!). Rounding out the draft, Chelsea Newton had the unfortunate distinction of having two teams -- the Sparks and the Dream -- pass on their picks entirely (picks 8 and 9) before she was taken by the Storm with the 10th pick.

Speaking of unfortunate distinctions, new Mystics draftee Kristin Haynie has the "distinction" of just possibly being the only player in the WNBA who has no large intestine. Due to a pre-cancerous condition, Kristin's large intestine was surgically removed when she was 11 years old. As a result, Kristin needs to consume about 4,000 calories a day just to maintain her weight and keep her strength up. So if at next season's Sibley Hospital Charity Auction you decide to bid on dinner with Kristin, you might want to check ahead of time to see who -- you or the Mystics -- will be footing the bill for the meal.

Welcome, Kristin!

Photo Credit: WNBA.com