MEDIA CONTEST: Seymour spouse living dream in WNBA

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ACC MEDIA CONTEST --  March Madness may be over, but for one Seymour Johnson couple, basketball season has not yet ended.

Former Duke basketball star Mistie Williams, wife of Senior Airman Kenneth Williams, 4th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, was drafted in the second round of the 2006 WNBA Draft April 5 at the Boston Convention Center.

"I was very nervous," Mrs. Williams said. "As an athlete, you never know what teams are looking for and it is completely out of your hands. As every name is being called, you just hope and pray yours will be next."

The news came just one day after a heartbreaking loss to Maryland in the NCAA Women's Championship game.

"The experience was an emotional roller coaster because of the night before," Airman Williams said. "She had just gone through one of the toughest losses in her career. We sat there in the green room and waited for her to be drafted. Invitations are sent out to the top prospects and Mistie was projected to be drafted really high."

The loss still weighed heavily on Mrs. Williams mind as well.

"It was very difficult," Mrs. Williams said. "I found myself not even in the moment because I was still thinking about the loss. I was trying to tell myself to be happy because this only happens once in a lifetime for few people, but I couldn't. I was so upset that we lost and I didn't have 12 hours to let it soak in. The entire weekend was bittersweet."

Mrs. Williams, the 21st selection in the draft by the Phoenix Mercury, was later traded along with Michigan State forward Liz Shimek to the Houston Comets for University of Connecticut guard Ann Strother.

"I have always wanted to play for Houston," Mrs. Williams said. " It was definitely a dream come true."

Mrs. Williams credits her husband for being very supportive during her four years at Duke and for her future endeavors in the WNBA.

"He has been my rock, my complete support system," Mrs. Williams said. "He really helped me to see the best in every situation no matter how hard it was for me to deal with. He is a big reason why I am so successful."