Former Drury basketball star Paige Robinson drafted by WNBA's Dallas Wings
It's fitting that Paige Robinson recently won the annual Jackie Stiles Award, given to the best women's basketball player in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Stiles, a former Missouri State sensation, was the first Springfield collegian to hear her name called in the WNBA Draft back in 2001. Her Lady Bears teammate, Tara Mitchem, was also chosen that year.
Twenty-two years later, Robinson, an Illinois State star who who spent her first four seasons at NCAA Division II power Drury, is the third.
The Dallas Wings selected Robinson with the 31st pick in Monday's WNBA Draft.
A versatile, sharp-shooting guard, Robinson averaged 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists at Illinois State this past season, helping the Redbirds reach the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Before Robinson opted to use her fifth and final season at a Division I school in her home state - the COVID pandemic gave athletes an additional year of eligibility - she helped elevate Drury.
Robinson, a one-time NCAA Division II Player of the Year and two-time Great Lakes Valley Conference MVP, helped the Panthers reach the 2021 national title game. Drury went a combined 123-8 with Robinson.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Former Drury star Paige Robinson drafted by WNBA's Dallas Wings
