Danielle Robinson returns from Turkey to new-look Indiana Fever

INDIANAPOLIS — Danielle Robinson remembers being the wide-eyed rookie who needed to show she belonged within the WNBA. Now, the 11-year veteran will play alongside 5 rookies with the Indiana Fever.

“It is loopy when folks discuss to me as a result of they’re like, ‘Oh, you are an excellent vet!’” Robinson stated Thursday, laughing. “I actually take the function critically. I like main. I like bringing my vitality, my information of the sport to actually assist develop the sport. After I’m accomplished, these gamers are gonna be round for years to return, so simply to have the ability to lead them on this manner with my vitality, my instance, I am enthusiastic about that.”

Robinson missed the primary three video games of the season whereas competing in Turkey however returned stateside earlier this week. She celebrated her thirty third birthday Tuesday by watching the revamped Fever (1-2) defeat the Minnesota Lynx for his or her first win of the season. She grew to become an energetic member of the roster Wednesday.

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Robinson will possible make her season debut Friday on the street in opposition to the New York Liberty. The three-time All-Star is coming into her second season in Indiana and seems ahead to constructing chemistry with the entire rookies, particularly Destanni Henderson.

Robinson stated she’s been impressed with Henderson to date. The 5-7 guard, who helped South Carolina win the 2022 nationwide championship, has began all three video games and is averaging 10.3 factors and 4.3 assists.

“I feel for her, it is simply her poise… She does not actually get flustered. She’s very, very even-keeled and as some extent guard that is robust,” Robinson stated. “I used to be very, very emotional once I got here in, and he or she’s simply very even-keeled. Her feelings aren’t gonna change, and I feel that she’s an thrilling participant to observe.

“She will be able to dish it out, and clearly she’s scoring for herself as properly. I assume simply coming in and working a workforce on the subsequent stage instantly is at all times exhausting, however I feel she’s accomplished very well with the transition.”

Robinson was some of the vocal gamers in observe Thursday, which was a welcome signal for Fever coach Marianne Stanley.

“We have been doing OK with out her, however we actually love having her again,” Stanley stated. “Some folks come again and so they kind of mix in and you do not discover them as a lot, however she’s one which we anticipate can have a huge impact on how we play.”

Alaina Coates has additionally returned from Turkey and can bolster Indiana’s frontcourt, although Stanley stated Coates may want “one other day” and may very well be held out Friday.

The final participant the Fever are ready to return from abroad is guard Bria Hartley, who’s nonetheless competing in Turkey. Robinson stated she will’t await the workforce to be at full energy so it could actually make some noise across the league.

“Wins. Competing and profitable. That is what I need,” Robinson stated. “Persons are gonna say what they’re gonna say, however on the finish of the day it is about what we do as a collective (group) and what we imagine, and I feel that we imagine in one another.”

Comply with IndyStar Pacers beat author James Boyd on Twitter: @RomeovilleKid. Attain him through e-mail: jboyd1@gannett.com.