Langhorne Could Take Old Home Court Bearing League Honor
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
When the Washington Mystics open their playoff series against the Indiana Fever at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, it will serve as a homecoming for one of the most prolific Terrapins basketball players ever. But before the Mystics' Crystal Langhorne, the top rebounder and top scorer in Maryland history, takes the court for her first WNBA postseason game, she may have already won.
Langhorne is expected to be named the WNBA's most improved player of the year on Thursday after a breakthrough year in her second professional season that put the rest of the league on notice of her presence in the post.
"That just means so much to me, just how my rookie season went, to get something like that means so much to me and also to the organization and team to show how far we've come," Langhorne said. Coach Julie Plank "has so much confidence in me. As time has gone on, my minutes have gone up and I'm really comfortable right now."
The 6-foot-2 forward finished the regular season tied for the fourth-best rebounding numbers in the league at 7.9 per game, in addition to serving as a workhorse in the Mystics' front court by playing more than 29 minutes per game and averaging 12 points. But WNBA success wasn't immediate for Langhorne, who was selected sixth overall in the 2008 draft.
As a rookie, Langhorne struggled without a defined role as the Mystics played through a disappointing 10-24 season with two head coaches. She averaged just 4.8 points and 4 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game in 2008. It was the worst campaign she could remember, and Langhorne entered the offseason looking for a fresh start.
Langhorne's turnaround began during the WNBA offseason as she helped lead TEO Vilnius to the Lithuanian league title and was named MVP of the championship series. When she arrived for Mystics training camp, Langhorne's confidence had returned. She has since started 22 games for Washington and become a focus for opposing defenders who still haven't found a way to stop the slightly undersize post player's shots.
"Lang doesn't back off from anyone," said assistant coach Vicky Bullett. "She doesn't care who you are, what your stats are. She goes in, does what she's supposed to do, and she's not intimidated by any player."
