Player Profile: Kristin Haynie

DREAM PLAYER PROFILE: KRISTIN HAYNIE

Watching Kristin Haynie weave in and out of defenders, leading the Atlanta Dream’s fast break, it’s hard to imagine she once suffered from chronic fatigue that made even getting through workouts difficult.  And judging from her athletic 5-9 frame, it’s difficult to imagine Haynie finding the remedy in a high-calorie diet of cheeseburgers, energy drinks and multiple meals.   

Always an active child, Haynie was plagued by health problems during her youth.  During her fourth and fifth grade years, Haynie started missing school due to a condition that caused her to develop polyps in her intestines.  With doctors fearing that the polyps might become cancerous, Haynie underwent a new surgery at age 12, during which doctors removed her large intestine. 

Haynie’s story does not end there.  Early in her college career, Haynie battled chronic fatigue, which she initially thought was due to the lingering effects of a freshman-year bout with mononucleosis.  It was not until her senior year that Haynie visited a Michigan State dietician and learned that her fatigue actually stemmed from her inability to digest food properly, stemming from her childhood health problems.    In order to get the proper amount of nutrients, Haynie had to drastically increase her caloric intake to approximately 4,000 calories a day.  As her metabolism slows, Haynie doesn’t have to maintain quite those levels anymore.  “I just have to eat more than the average person and that’s fine with me,” Haynie said with a laugh. 

Haynie put her newfound energy to good use, helping the Spartans knock off Tennessee in the Final Four en route to an appearance in the NCAA Finals.  Although they lost to Baylor, Haynie said it was one of the most memorable experiences of her athletic career.  That year (2005) proved to be special for Haynie.  Drafted by the Sacramento Monarchs with the ninth overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft, Haynie would go on to win a WNBA championship with the team in her rookie season. 

After three seasons in Sacramento, Haynie was acquired by the Dream in the 2008 WNBA Expansion Draft.  “I was shocked,” Haynie said.  “I thought I would be in Sacramento for my whole career.  It was bittersweet, but I was ready for a new city and a new opportunity.” 

Although Haynie herself is only in her fourth year in the league, she is one of the more seasoned players on the Dream roster, having backed up the likes of Ticha Penicheiro on a Monarchs team that made it to the playoffs every year.  Soft-spoken by nature and the type of leader that leads by example, Haynie has focused on being more of a vocal leader this season. 

A prototypical point guard, she says her job is to get her teammates involved by getting them the ball in the right situations.  As Haynie puts it, “Don’t set anyone up for failure.”  And the Michigan native is making the transition to life in a new city.  “I love it,” she said.  “There is always something to do; you’re never bored here.  I don’t ever want to leave this city.”