Lynx land a home-town star in draft-day trade

Angel Robinson of St. Paul is coming home.

The 5-8 senior point guard for Marquette was taken by the New York Liberty on Monday in the second round of the WNBA draft in Bristol, Conn., then dealt to the Lynx shortly after the last pick of the day.

In a pre-arranged trade, the Lynx sent Jessica Breland, a 6-3 forward for North Carolina, to the Liberty in exchange for Robinson and New York's second-round draft pick in 2011.

Breland was the first pick of the second round, No. 13 overall; Robinson was the 10th pick that round, No. 22 overall.

"I was watching [the draft] with my [Marquette] coaches," Robinson said. "I was a little nervous, but after all I was more shocked. I was in a daze when I heard my name get called.

"For me to be coming back home is like crazy to me. I think it is good because a lot of people wanted me to stay there for college anyway. So for me to be coming back to be a professional basketball player is amazing for my family to see happen."

Robinson, who led St. Paul Central to a 32-0 record and the Class 4A state title in 2007 as a high school senior, has eight brothers and sisters.

"I couldn't be more excited for Angel," Marquette coach Terri Mitchell said. "She is the epitome of hard work, heart and passion.

"People have now seen in Angel what we have seen all along. She is mentally and physically tough and has the talent to be successful at the next level."

Making the Lynx roster could be a challenge for Robinson, though. Lindsay Whalen, a seven-year veteran, started at point guard last season. She was backed up by Candice Wiggins and Alexis Hornbuckle, two players also used at shooting guard.

"Looking at who they have on their roster," Robinson said, "the Lynx are pretty stacked, but I feel blessed to possibly be a part of all these All-Americans on the team. [I'll] bring what I will bring to any team -- just my hard work ethic and whatever they need me to do, that is what I pretty much will do."

Just as she did at Marquette.

She made the All-Big East first team once -- as a senior -- and before that the second all-conference team twice and the all-freshman team.

Robinson played in 134 games, starting the last 105 in her career. She is second on Marquette's all-time list in career steals (277), second in free throws made and attempted (434 of 600), third in assists (570) and sixth in points (1,699).

This past season she led the Golden Eagles to a 24-9 record and an NCAA appearance. Tennessee, one of four regional No. 1 seeds, beat Marquette 79-70 on March 21 in the second round NCAA tournament game. Robinson had 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the loss.

"We really gained an appreciation [of] her in her NCAA tournament game against Tennessee," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We had watched her throughout the season. I like how hard-nosed she is, she is strong. She goes to the hole strong. She can take a hit and finish. She looks like she is fearless.

"We have done some homework on her -- a real good kid. [She] will make a great showing in training camp."

"Growing up I kind of had a feeling that if I were to get drafted that for some reason I would be back home playing," said Robinson, who was named Miss Basketball in Minnesota in 2007. "So it is kind of funny right now. At the same time it is shocking.