Paige Robinson becomes first ISU player ever drafted into WNBA

Illinois State University basketball player Paige Robinson became the first Redbird drafted into the WNBA on Monday night.

The Dallas Wings drafted Robinson at No. 31 overall (third round) on Monday. ISU said she was the first player in Illinois State women's basketball history to be drafted to the WNBA. She's the Missouri Valley's first WNBA draft pick since 2015 and only the sixth ever.

Robinson, a graduate student and guard on the Redbirds, was the reigning 2022-23 MVC Jackie Stiles Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-MVC, and All-Newcomer Team selection. Robinson was the first Jackie Stiles Player of the Year for ISU since former All-American Kristi Cirone was awarded the honor for the third straight time following the 2008-09 season.

Robinson is set to follow Cirone as ISU’s second player in the WNBA. Cirone went undrafted but appeared in four games with the Connecticut Sun in 2009.

Robinson led the way for the Redbirds in her lone season in Normal. The Bethany native averaged 18.3 points, 2.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per contest in 2022-23 in her only season with the Redbirds.

Robinson finished the 2022-23 season with 27 outings scoring in double figures — including posting 20-plus points on 17 occasions — while leading Illinois State in the category 20 times.

The kudos were rolling in Monday night for Robinson.

"Words can’t express how proud I am of ! You did it, kid!" tweeted ISU coach Kristen Gillespie.