Danielle Robinson, better known as D-Rob, announced her retirement on her personal Instagram account on Jan. 1. Robinson played 14 years in the WNBA and was drafted by the San Antonio Silver Stars sixth overall in the 2011 Draft. The Silver Stars are now the Las Vegas Aces, where she played in 2020. Robinson played for six teams in the WNBA (San Antonio Silver Stars, Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces, Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream). Per the press release, the San Jose, California native will assist with the team’s basketball operations’ culture, data, technology, and analytics. Also, she will work closely with coaches, players, the general manager and other front-office staff.
Robinson will also provide scouting support for free agency, the 2025 WNBA Draft and the WNBA season.
Take a look at what Robinson had to say about her new role for the coming WNBA season:
“Joining the Sparks in this unique role is such an exciting opportunity for me,” Robinson said. “I am committed to nurturing relationships and creating a strong organizational culture, values I share with (GM) Raegan (Pebley), (Asst. GM) Eli (Horowitz), (Head Coach) Lynne (Roberts) and the entire team. As I close the chapter on my playing career, it’s only natural that the next step in my journey involves the game I love. I can’t wait to collaborate with our staff and players to bring out the best in everyone and help the organization win.”
Danielle ‘ D-Rob’ Robinson
Robinson was a quick guard who led in assists in 2013 and ranks 13th all-time. She was a selfless player who helped her teams win. A three-time All-Star and three-time All-Defensive, she made the All-Rookie Team in 2011 and the All-WNBA Team in 2014. It was an incredible career for Robinson, who played 359 games in her career in the league. She finished her career with 3,160 points, 1,479 assists, 988 total rebounds, and 390 steals. Not only was Robinson a defensive guard, but she was also a good shooter. Robinson finished her 14-year WNBA career almost perfectly from the free-throw line with 86.1 percent and 45% from the field.
Robinson’s Injuries in the WNBA
Unfortunately, injuries stalled her WNBA career, as she played her last year in Atlanta in 2023. Finishing with 9,340 minutes in her career will tear your body at the end. She had an Achilles injury in 2016 that ended her season. In 2021, she suffered a right ankle injury while playing for Indiana and, later on, returned and finished with the second most assists on the team. Lastly, in 2023 underwent a successful left knee surgery.
Robinson’s Hairstyle Throughout Her WNBA Career
Robinson’s uniqueness as a player was her hairstyle. Depending on the team she was with, her hair color changed. She had red dye and blonde with the San Antonio Silver Stars, went back to red with the Mercury, and had blue, teal and green with Minnesota. With Vegas, she let her hair grow and returned to her colorful style with the Fever, a brown color. She finished her career in Atlanta with purple dye. Her hairstyle showcased her personality on the court and made her stand out as a person and player.
