Uganda Women’s national basketball team point guard Paige Robinson. Has made history as the first of her nationality to sign with a WNBA team. After the Atlanta Dream announced her arrival on a training camp contract.
The Dream, which only last week traded for high-profile star forward Angel Reese. Also includes All Stars Allisha Grey and Brionna Jones in their ranks, as posted on social media. “We have signed Paige Robinson to a Training Camp contract.
Welcome, Paige Robinson.
The 25-year-old has caught the eye of the Dream with her excellent performances. For Euskotren in Spain’s top flight, where she has the distinction of playing the most minutes for her club in the 2025/26 season.
In addition, she averaged 12.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, and a 43% FG percentage. But it is her ability from three-point range, hovering around the 40% mark, that surely attracted the most attention.
She will compete with fellow training camp new signings Holly Winterburn and Maite Carzola for a place on the roster for the 2026 season.
A training camp contract, also known as a preseason contract, is a non-guaranteed deal. Allowing WNBA teams to evaluate players before signing them to the final roster. For the season, without adding them to the salary cap.
The long road to Atlanta
Born in Bethany, Illinois, in the United States. Robinson began her career at Drury University. Here, she won NCAA Division II Player of the Year honours during the 2020-21 season.
She was a key part of the Lady Panthers’ journey to a 123-8 record across four years. Including a national championship game appearance.
She was a four-time First Team All Great Lakes Valley Conference(GLVC) selection. A two-time GLVC Tournament MVP and set a program record with 271 three pointers made.
She then transferred to Illinois State for the 2022-23 season. In her sole season with the Redbirds, she was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Making her just the second player in league history to achieve this.
This came off the back of her playing 32 games. In which she averaged 18 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 38% from three-point range.
Drafted, then detoured.
Robinson was selected 31st overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. But she departed the team without making an appearance on the court.
Instead, she moved overseas, first to Germany’s Herner TC, where she arrived in January 2024.
In the 2024/25 season, she scored a total of 456 points and averaged six rebounds in 25 DBBL games, finishing third in the league’s MVP voting.
From Germany, she moved to her current club, Spain’s IDK Euskotren San Sebastián in the Liga Femenina Endesa.
How Paige Robinson became Ugandan.
Robinson is a Ugandan player by naturalisation. She holds a Ugandan passport and has regularly featured for the Uganda Women’s Senior National Team, the Gazelles, since 2025.
According to FIBA rules, a naturalised player is one who carries a passport from the country they want to represent, despite being born elsewhere.
Uganda has, in recent years, increasingly called upon naturalised players. As the East African nation attempts to compete with the best on the continent.
The men’s Silverbacks have former Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors forward Ishmail Wainright and former Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets centre Brandon Davies as naturalised players.
Robinson is the second naturalised player on the Gazelles, following in the footsteps of compatriot Janon Jaye Otto.
In fact, Robinson came to prominence in the wake of Otto’s injury-enforced absence from the 2025 FIBA women’s AfroBasket qualifiers in Cairo. Averaging seventeen points and trailing only team captain Jane Asinde in terms of scoring numbers.
Robinson wasted no time becoming a fan favourite. And a key piece of the Gazelles’ offence at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan. Here she averaged 11.2 points and four assists per game.
She scored nineteen points, including a late three-pointer to force overtime against Senegal, along with five rebounds and three assists in a memorable win for Uganda that secured a quarter-final place.
What this means for Uganda.
Robinson’s signing is a milestone for Ugandan basketball. She might have already been on a WNBA team with the Wings, but that was before she was naturalised.
Her return to the highest level of women’s basketball in the world as a Gazelle is a boost to the country’s profile, something that could be further enhanced if she ultimately succeeds in nailing down a permanent spot on the team.
For the Dream, Robinson is a wildcard bringing international experience and reliable perimeter shooting.
General Manager Dan Padover said the team has “monitored closely” her progress, praising her “size, shooting, and professional experience from FIBA competition.”
Head Coach Karl Smesko highlighted her versatility, noting she “can create her own shot, defend multiple positions, and has shown high basketball IQ with the Gazelles.”
The road ahead for Paige Robinson.
Training camp begins on April 26th. It is still quite some way before Robinson can become a full member of the team. But if she does make the final roster, she will become the first Ugandan to play a regular-season minute in the WNBA.
If she does not, the experience and exposure will surely open more doors in Europe and keep the door to the WNBA open for another day.
Either way, Robinson has already made history. Kampala’s eyes will be on Atlanta. And for a young woman from Illinois who chose to wear Uganda’s colours, the dream might be about to come true.
