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Stars eye the books

By Paul Pickering
THEY’VE already shared a house and a WNBA championship, but Dandenong Rangers team-mates Abby Bishop and Ashley Robinson are already eyeing a place in Australian basketball history.
The Rangers recruits – both members of the Seattle Storm’s successful American title tilt – will make their home debut against the AIS at Stud Road tomorrow night (Friday).
And, with the Rangers already joining Canberra atop the WNBL ladder, the pair made no secret of their ambition to win a championship in both hemispheres within 12 months.
“For Ash and I to go back-to-back from the WNBA to the WNBL would be amazing,” Bishop said.
“And with the girls in this team and the experience they have, I think we’ve got a chance to do something special.”
Twenty-one-year-old Bishop, who was the first plank in Dandenong’s extraordinary off-season recruiting campaign, is the new face of Rangers basketball.
Coach Mark Wright says the former Canberra Capitals forward was integral in putting together the star-studded roster that will take the court tomorrow night.
Bishop plays down her role in that process, but you can understand why her move to Dandenong encouraged others to follow.
Her star is certainly on the rise, following a promising rookie season in the WNBA and a strong showing for the Opals in last month’s World Championships in the Czech Republic.
Bishop admits to suffering some mental fatigue on her return to Australia, but says the experience she has gained this year will be invaluable.
“(The WNBA) is a new level and a new world really,” she said.
“Coming from the WNBL, where some of the girls don’t even get paid to play – we train after hours and some of the girls work full-time – to the WNBA, where it’s a professional league, was one of the many things I had to adjust to.
“And even though I didn’t get to play much as a rookie, being a part of a championship team is something I’ll look back on my whole career.”
Robinson, a seven-year veteran of the WNBA at age 27, has had to make a similar adjustment since arriving in Australia this month.
She says the idea of following Bishop back to Dandenong started with a passing comment during the middle of American season.
“I’ve played with an Australian every year I’ve been a pro, and everybody told me Australia is a wonderful place and I need to come visit,” she said.
“Then Abby came to my team and said (Dandenong) was looking for a centre, so we just casually talked about it and she said ‘I’ll mention it’. She mentioned it and the rest is history.”
Robinson, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds on debut against Adelaide, hoped the Melbourne weather would be less like rainy Seattle, but says she’s settled in well.
“Everyone’s treated me so nice and I get along well with my team-mates, so that’s made it easy for me,” she said.
No doubt that warm reception will be extended by the Rangers supporters as the new-look green machine looks to go 4-0 tomorrow night.
Bishop hopes the fans are as excited as she is.
“I’ve always liked coming to Dandenong,” she said.
“It’s a good gym and they always have a good crowd, so I’m definitely happy to be playing for the Rangers this time.”
Bishop and Robinson will be among six Rangers playing their first home game at Stud Road. Tip-off is at 7.30pm.