Can Ariel Atkins be the solution the Chicago Sky need to solve their scoring problems?
The Sky added Atkins for the price of a 2025 first-rounder, a 2027 first-round pick swap and a second-rounder from the same year. The 5-foot-10 guard will slot into a starting role alongside another proven veteran in Courtney Vandersloot, who can be the engine the Sky need to boost their offense after it dipped in recent years. The duo was added as a familiar face in forward Michaela Onyenwere was re-signed to a one-year contract.
Chicago will need serious help strengthening its offense after ranking near last in the WNBA in nearly every category on that side of the floor last season. The Sky added a pair of complimentary shooters in Kia Nurse and Rebecca Allen to add depth off the bench, but will still need to see a jump from its new and returning options alike.
Ariel Atkins's shooting can make her a solid scoring option for Chicago
During her seven seasons with the Mystics, Atkins has become known as a knockdown shooter from the 3-point line. The two-time All-Star was confident taking long-range shots at a high volume last season. She ended the year with a comfortable 35.7% clip from the 3-point line, a slight jump from her average the season before.
Still, it'll take more than 3-point shooting to lift the Sky's offense to the standards they have seen in years past.
Chicago tried to make a living off the mid-range last season as it had the year before, but ranked near the bottom of the league in mid-range field goal percentage with 34.4%. Guard Chennedy Carter would attempt about a third of the Sky's mid-range attempts. With a reliable arsenal to work with off of screens and more, Atkins has also shown she can be consistent from the mid-range if need be. The Mystics' all-time leader in 3-point makes hit about 49% of her mid-range tries last season, which put her in second place among players who attempted three or more per game.
Working with a solid passing big can only add to Atkins's potential as a scorer on her new squad.
She was assisted by former Sky center Stefanie Dolson a total of 26 times last season. Dolson, a championship winner with Chicago in 2021, fed Atkins on the perimeter and off a variety of cuts. If Kamilla Cardoso can improve her passing game in the offseason and find a similar connection with Atkins, the pair can be one to look forward to in the Sky's 2025 campaign.