If you can't join us at Greene Turtle for today's Draft Party, please join Crystal Hudson here at WashingtonMystics.com as she provides live updates from the war room at the Verizon Center ...

12:02pm - The Mystics staff arrived at Greene Turtle early to deck the place out with with Mystics balloons, sales collateral and various auction items for all those in attendance at today's Draft Party. When I was last up there, the fans were trickling in - Maryland 'nalia and all. (For the record ... we got the hint!)

I'll put it like this: the Mystics L-O-V-E the Terps; but we will ultimately do what's best for the team.

12:05pm - The atmosphere in the war room is pretty tense, but our coaching staff always knows how to keep things light-hearted. I'll keep you all posted with random moments they probably prefer I do not share (wink, wink).

A few moments ago, Tree logged into US Airways to check how many frequent flyer miles he currently has. To everyone's surprise, he was greeted by a loud and unfamiliar voice welcoming Tree to the website and announcing to all in the room how very happy US Airways is to have him as a customer. If my memory serves me correctly, US Airways did not thank me quite like that the last time I logged onto their site!

When we all met the PR Assistant, Danielle, Linda promptly asked her where she was in school. When Danielle informed the group that she recently graduated from Loyola in Baltimore, Linda shared that her only knowledge of Baltimore was that traffic gets bad in the DC area when folks who reside in Baltimore are heading on their long trek home.

12:14pm - This is the last weekend our coaching staff will have before things get really intense, so you can be assured that weekend plans are already being made. Every computer screen in the room (aside from mine) has an average of 2 airline sites pulled up.

12:22pm - Cell phones are ringing, fingers are texting, and the league has just called one of our 4 landlines to establish a connection. News flash: we are officially connected to the WNBA!

12:40pm - I just stopped by the Greene Turtle for a moment, and boy is it crowded up there! Everyone is anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 WNBA Draft (which is arguably the best Draft yet!).

All of the telephone lines are connected, Washington has just checked into the conference call, and we were given the rundown of how the Draft will unfold. As a first-timer in the war room, I must say that this all very exciting! The pressure is definitely on, as each team will have just 3 minutes to make their pick after the team preceding them announces their choice.

Frank Hanrahan, our official Mystics broadcaster, has addressed the crowd and bidding for our silent auction items has begun. Items include a jersey signed by the entire 2007 Mystics roster; a chance to play H-O-R-S-E with Monique Currie; dinner with our new Draft picks; and many more. If you work in the area, I'd say it's worth stopping by just to place a bid!

12:52pm - We're all devouring the caesar salad that has been provided for us down here in the war room, while other Mystics staff members and our guests order from the extensive menu offered by Greene Turtle. On my last run upstairs, it seemed like B. Mo (Bernice Mosby) and Gigi (Gillian Goring) were thoroughly enjoying their meals (don't worry girls, I won't tell the trainer!).

Much to the coaches' surprise, the salad is actually quite delicious. Crystal Robinson isn't into it though, as she just asked Danielle to make a Chipotle run for a good ol' steak and cheese burrito (I guess the salad trend hasn't hit Oklahoma yet).

1:04pm - WNBA President, Donna Orender, just welcomed everyone to this year's Draft down at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, owned by Sheila Johnson (yes, OUR Sheila Johnson).

All is calm (so far) as we wait for our turn ...

1:14pm - WIth the 1st pick, Los Angeles chose Candace Parker ... what a surprise! Did anyone think she wouldn't go first overall? Chicago picked Sylvia Fowles with the 2nd pick, and Minnesota just snagged NCAA Finals super star Candice Wiggins with the 3rd pick.

And now on to the fashion results ...

So far, Candice Wiggins is at the top of our list. I won't share with everyone who is at the bottom.

1:20pm - With the 4th pick, Detroit chose Tennessee's Alexis Hornbuckle; and we're now four places closer to the Mystics' pick ...

Matee Ajavon has gone to Houston with the 5th pick.

1:27pm - And with the 6th overall pick, the Washington Mystics choose CRYSTAL LANGHORNE!!!

I know everyone upstairs in the Greene Turtle is going crazy! As aforementioned, we have a LOT of Maryland fans in the house. I'm sure they are all very pleased.

Let me be the first to say, Welcome to the Mystics Crystal! (And might I add, she will be the 3rd Crystal within the Mystics organization ... after myself and Crystal Robinson, of course.)

1:33pm - I have just been informed that we will have no more fashion updates, because we are now in "crunch" mode. This is all business folks, nothing less.

It looks like we are in a similar boat with the Liberty, having players from nearby universities - Maryland and Rutgers, respectively.

2:03 - Linda and the coaches are a little frustrated, because the Maury Povich show is currently on our television. Tree just claimed to be the "baby daddy" of one of the kids they're showing right now. He just welcomed his first grandson into the world during our last season ... who would've thought we would learn about a son in just the following year??

2:11 - And the negotiations have begun! The phones are ringing again, and we're making calls as well. The clock is still ticking ...

With the 20th pick in the second round, the Washington Mystics have selected LINDSAY PLUMIER.

2:20pm - Things have started to wind down quite a bit, but you wouldn't know it by walking in the war room right now. Everyone seems to be in a bit of a frenzy, for one reason or another ... unfortunately, I couldn't tell you what any of those reasons are.

Crystal Langhorne just called in ... Linda gave her a nice, warm welcome; and Tree just informed her that she must report to practice at 6pm this evening, which would mean she should head to the airport right now!

2:25 - I just got word that Crystal is en route to D.C. and will make it to practice tonight. Coach Rollins has also just announced that tonight's practice will be open to the public. (ok, that was a joke.)

Things seem to have calmed down a bit. We have resorted to watching rounds two and three of the Draft on Linda's computer, per her suggestion. We have put the TV back on ESPN, which isn't showing the WNBA Draft ... but it's much better than Maury airing Tree's dirty laundry in front of his professional comrades.

2:32pm - Assistant Coach, Jessie Kenlaw, has just followed suit, so we now have the Draft playing on two of our five computers.

Tree is in a side room giving an interview with the Washington Post. Once the third round is over, our PR Director will bring all members of the media that up at Greene Turtle down to the war room to interview both Tree and Linda. Apparently the Baltimore Sun is next in line for GM/Head Coach interviews ...

2:40pm - Here's the latest scene in the war room:

Linda is pacing around the room as she gives an interview for the Baltimore Sun ... Crystal Robinson and Ketsia, our PR Director, are perusing photos online (of the newest members of the WNBA) ... Danielle, the PR Assistant, is surfing the web ... Tree is facing an entirely different direction from everyone else, because he can't fit his freakishly long legs under the table ... Brian, one of our scouts, is standing beside the white board, on guard with the latest updates from the Draft ... Dave, the equipment manager, is still trying to get NBATV on another television (even though we've already been told that NBATV does not feed into the war room) ... and I'm sitting in a corner watching it all go down.

2:50pm - Lindsay Plumier has officially been welcomed to the Washington Mystics, and I can tell you that she's thrilled! I know this, because although I didn't speak with her, I could her screaming "Thank You" all the way from Tampa. It's nice to know that some of these players are so genuinely happy and grateful to join the WNBA. I'm looking forward to watching these rookies play with our veterans, and to witnessing first hand how the dynamics of our team change.

I'm sure Nikki Blue will give her fellow Bruin a warm welcome.

3:11pm - With the 34th overall pick in the third round, the Washington Mystics selected KRYSTAL VAUGHN from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Ketsia just escorted three reporters into the war room to interview Tree, who in turn tried to pass them off to Assistant Coach Crystal Robinson. When they hovered over him, however, he quickly gave in and granted them the interview they've been waiting so patiently for.

Ketsia has just asked everyone to start packing things up, and I haven't seen anyone lift a finger as of yet.

3:19pm - Crystal Langhorne is next on the interview circuit ...

The reporters will have to do that one from a remote location, however, since she didn't answer her phone. I can only imagine the phone calls she must be getting today, from her teammates, family and friends - not to mention an entirely new slew of phone calls from our coaching and PR staff.

3:26 - Fingers have been lifted, and we are now preparing to leave the war room. The 2008 WNBA Draft is officially on the books!

We look forward to seeing you for opening night on Sunday, May 25th at 4pm at the Verizon Center. BELIEVE!