The nature of professional sports means saying goodbye. Roster change is an inevitable part of the quest to get better and compete for championships. In Seattle, we’ve been lucky not to have to do that so much in recent seasons, but this offseason alone has meant saying goodbye to three favorites: Swin Cash, Le’coe Willingham and now Ashley Robinson.
From a basketball perspective, I’m thrilled the Storm was able to trade for one of my favorite young players in the league, talented athlete Victoria Dunlap. In time, we’ll come to know her as a person and not just a basketball player, as was the case with Robinson when she came to the Storm as an unproven young player midway through the 2006 season.
Still, Ashley will be missed. Over six years with the Storm – more than any other reserve in the league had spent with the same team – she became a fixture.
It’s always bothered me when fans and analysts tried to paint Robinson as a cheerleader, which demeaned her ability to contribute on the floor. Players, coaches and those who watched practice on a regular basis knew what Robinson was capable of doing when she got enough minutes to build her confidence, and I’m thankful the whole world had a chance to see Robinson’s skills during her breakout 2011 season.
At the same time, there’s no question that Robinson was more valuable to the Storm than her stat line would ever indicate because she is such a great person to be around. Ashley has always been accessible to fans, especially after joining Twitter, and her support for her teammates grew into an important leadership role as she gained perspective as a WNBA veteran.
To know Ashley is to want her to succeed, and I hope you’ll join me in saying a heartfelt goodbye and wishing her the best of luck as she moves on to Washington.
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I know all is fair in this game. I do understand this trade much more than I will understand Swin and Le’Coe. However Ashley showed what she can do in 2011 and it is not just being a cheerleader out there. I admit I was one that considered her that until last year. AROB is a great person on and off the court and I wish her nothing but success. Sometimes this business sucks. AROB we will miss you and good luck in Washington.
AROB was way, way more than a cheerleader. i’ll miss her shot-blocking, her on-ball defense, and her endless energy. there were critical moments last season when we didn’t need three-point shooting in the game, we needed defensive stops. ashley was just what we needed, but… it wasn’t my decision to make.
best of luck to you ashley, hopefully this gets you more minutes, and maybe a starting position! thanks for all of your hard work, your drive to improve your skills, and your infectious love and energy. i can’t wait to cheer you on when the mystics come to play! somewhere down the line, i really hope you return to seattle full-time!
I have watched AROB since her days a Tennessee and that girl has heart! I do agree that I am excited for what Dunlap brings to the table, but cannot overstate how much I appreciate AROB and her wonderful attitude. Good luck in Washington AROB and we look forward to your visit back at the Key!!
I am glad to see that Ashley has the opportunity to contribute to another WNBA team just as she has with the Storm. Good luck Ash! On another note, why didn’t the Storm sign and trade Katie Smith and Le’Coe Willingham instead of SWIN CASH? Just saying. I love Katie’s game and contribution, but Swin was the backbone…really really REALLY going to miss her!
I am not an eloquent person, but here goes:
Cheerleader or not (definitely not in my book) Ashley (and Swin) will be missed. Never before have I experienced such a camaraderie, dare I say, friendship with other fans that was all brought about because of ARob. With the trades of Ashley and Swin the Storm have lost a very valuable and key ingredient to a successful organization. I have never felt that any of the other players were all that approachable. Most are at events because it is part of the job. Whereas Ashley and Swin would be out there, meeting fans, shaking hands, high-5′ing, petting dogs, giving hugs, holding babies, raising money…doing whatever they do to make people fall for them. To make them want to go to another game. To make them care about this team, this organization.
I really hope the Storm recognizes that they didn’t just trade players, they lost the heart of the team. I also hope the Mystics recognize what they have gained, an amazing selfless woman who has easily captured the hearts of Storm fans everywhere.
It has been a pleasure watching Ashley’s game mature and improve, and we will never forget those magnificent powerful swats that could block the best of them! She will always be a fixture in the hearts of Storm fans…
KoleBigEars you are so right on here. The heart of this organization is gone. I am Katie Smith’s biggest fan but why not trade her instead of Swin, I said that a while ago.
Sad to see ARob leave, because of her great personality, contributions on and off the court to the Storm/Seattle over the years. We’ve survived the loss of the Storm’s first heart – Simone Edwards – and we will survive this loss too. Ashley certainly contributed the last couple of years, but she should have developed a lot more than she did. I wish her the best in DC, and can’t wait to see Dunlap in a Storm uni. I remember her as a strong post, good rebounder and decent offensive player at KY.
I understand the biz side of things and I’m excited for what Dunlap can bring in terms of stats… but AROB [& Swin] truly became much more than just players putting minutes on the court. They build a following with StormCrazies and their twitter updates, keeping all of us interested in what was going on with the team at all times. I felt a lot more engaged with them than with the rest. I do appreciate every minute major star players like Sue, Katie & Swin gave to us, who faithfully waited before & after every game for a chance at an autograph. those three were generally and genuinely very accessible players.
AROB was lot more than a cheerleader and those who think of her in such way are probably part of what kept her confidence level low. She showed great heart last year and I’m truly happy for her. Hopefully, the next team will get to enjoy the fruits of her labor. I will miss her A-Blocks… they brought so much energy to the game.
AROB & Swin I will follow your Twitter updates even if you will no longer cheer your Storm Crazy Nation… Best to both of you.
KoleBigEars expressed what I wanted to say a lot more eloquently.
I’ll miss Swin , L’Coe and especially Ashley. Their new teams are lucky to have them, they are such great players and awesome people and I have faith that the Storm organization is making good decisions for the future. Even if it stings a little.
Goodness, where to begin… I’ve been going to Storm games and been a season ticket holder since we acquired Ashley in 2006. Even in my early years as a fan, there was something completely captivating about the way she approached the court and interacted with fans. Ashley never tried to be anything or anyone she wasn’t. She brought a clear skill and talent to the basketball floor in her blocking ability and defensive stride. Offensively, she seemed to struggle, but really came into her own over the past couple of years. While I’m trying to look at the business side of this decision, my heart just breaks. I’ve come to know Ashley as a role model and dare I say a friend. She’s always greeted me with a smile and a warm Texas hug. Over the years she’s gone out of her way to put similes on the faces of thousands of fans. She takes the time and interest in each person who comes to watch her warm up. At many of the Storm events she, along with Swin, always seemed to be the only player who was actually interested in interacting with the fans. Ashley never looked at any of us as a burden or time out of her day that could have been better spent somewhere else. I was so happy when she signed her multi-year deal with the Storm last year, and had hoped she’d finish her career here. This is why we pay Brian to do what he does though. He is in the position to make the business decisions, not the emotional ones. If I were running the team, every player I loved with grow old and retire in Seattle. We can’t win championships if we don’t continually look towards the future, which includes us continually striving to acquire young talent. Ashley was our young talent once upon a time. Now she moves on to DC to nurture their young talent. I hope the Mystics understand how lucky they are. I hope their fans understand how we feel, loosing someone we’ve grown so close to over the years. I can’t wait for June, when Ashley comes back. Key Arena is going to be full of all our smiling faces, welcoming her back! We will truly miss you Ashley. You’ve become such an integral part of my experience as a fan, I’m not sure how to cheer and scream without you on the court. Congratulations on making such a lasting impression on so many hearts. There’s more work to be done in DC, and they’re stealing away the perfect tool to do so!!! Thank you for all your time, passion, kindness and generosity. It was always appreciated and never taken for granted. – Hannah
Ashley will be successful wherever she goes because she’ll bring her personality, determination and energy with her. She will be greatly missed by the Storm fans and I hope the ‘other’ Washington knows what a gift they are getting. Ashley, we will miss you, your cute puppy and your mom too. Best of luck always.
AROB – as a Tennesse and Storm fan I will miss you twice as much. I haven’t followed the Mystics much on-line – but will watch the games and cheer for you and your new team now you’re on the team. Good luck and I hope you get a lot more playing time. We appreciated you a lot.