Image Credit - Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ariel Atkins joins Angel Reese in Chicago

In a recent trade, the Chicago Sky acquired Ariel Atkins from the Washington Mystics.

Image Credit - Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The WNBA season is about to start and teams are making moves to find the perfect combination of players.

In a recent trade, the Chicago Sky acquired Ariel Atkins from the Washington Mystics for a 2025 number-three overall pick, 2027 first-round pick swap and a 2027 second-round pick.

Breaking: 2x-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins has been traded from the Washington Mystics to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the 2025 No. 3 overall pick, sources told me and @kendra__andrews Sunday

The move kickstarts a rebuild for D.C. and marks a huge get for the surging Sky pic.twitter.com/qApTpdEmHe
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) February 24, 2025

Ariel Atkins is a two-time All-Star guard and has been a constant feature in the WNBA All-defensive teams. The guard also brings experience as she was the part of the 2019 Mystics championship side. She averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the 2024 season. The former Mystics guard is a volume three-point shooter and averaged 5.5 three attempts per game.

Previously, Chicago Sky has already made two moves to add depth to their backcourt. Courtney Vandersloot of New York Liberty and Kia Nurse from Los Angeles Sparks have joined the franchise.

Chicago Sky has also traded away Dana Evans and Lindsey Allen in their overhaul of the backcourt. Isabella Harrison and Diamond DeShields have also signed with different franchises. The franchise have shown faith in the duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso who were the only positives in a disappointing 2025 WNBA season for the Sky.

Washington Mystics in rebuild mode

Washington Mystics lost their two starting guards in Julie Vanloo to the Golden State Valkyries and Ariel Atkins to the Chicago Sky.

The Washington Mystics now have:

– 2025 3rd overall pick
– 2025 4th overall pick
– 2025 6th overall pick
– 2026 1st rounder
– Aaliyah Edwards (22)
– Jade Melbourne (22)
– Sika Koné (22)

A treasure chest for rebuilding if they draft right. https://t.co/berjcJ7Ggf
— Alford Corriette (@alfcorriette) February 24, 2025

The franchise finished fifth in the eastern conference (14-26) and were awarded the fourth-pick in the lottery. The franchise has total three-picks in the top-10 (third, fourth and sixth) in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Washington Mystics picked Aaliyah Edwards in the 2024 WNBA Draft which has been a successful step towards the rebuild.

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Suryansh Kumar

NBA/WNBA Writer

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Hello, my name is Suryansh, and I write NBA/WNBA content for ThePlayoffs. I love sports, which is why I write and I love the NBA because of the stats. My aim is to find unique stats and perspectives to provide my readers with another angle on sports.