Alongside the third pick, the Mystics also received a second-round pick from Chicago in 2027 and the option to swap first-round picks that same year.
General manager Jamila Wideman expressed the team’s vision in a statement, noting, “We are building a program to sustain a period of contention during the next era of Mystics basketball. Our ambitious return to prolonged excellence requires time, intention and difficult decisions. Trading Ariel, a champion and celebrated Mystic, is one of those difficult decisions. In exchange, we are afforded another opportunity to select a young impact player at the top of the draft who can be part of our aspirational future.”
Atkins has played a key role for Washington, helping the team reach the playoffs five times in her seven-season tenure since being selected seventh overall in 2018. She was part of the Mystics’ 2019 WNBA championship team and was the last member from that roster still with the team.
In addition to her WNBA success, Atkins earned an Olympic gold medal while representing the United States in 2021.
The Chicago Sky will benefit from Atkins’ experience as they seek to revamp their roster. Led by Chennedy Carter and promising talents like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the Sky struggled last season, finishing with a 13-27 record and missing the playoffs, which led to the dismissal of coach Teresa Weatherspoon. The team has since appointed Tyler Marsh as the new head coach.
Chicago has also reinstated veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot, the franchise’s all-time leader in assists, who played a crucial part in the Sky’s championship run in 2021.
Throughout her career, Atkins has been a significant contributor, averaging 13.4 points, 3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. She was the leading scorer for the Mystics last season with an average of 14.9 points per game.
Atkins holds several franchise records, being Washington’s all-time leader in 3-pointers (397), second in steals (313), and third in points (2,914) and assists (525). Notably, she is the only player in league history to be named to the All-Defensive team in each of her first five seasons.
“Ariel has made a tremendous impact on this league since her rookie year,” said Chicago’s general manager Jeff Pagliocca. “She is an excellent role model for her teammates and an All-Star-caliber contributor. As one of the league’s top defensive specialists and a consistent scorer, she is a threat on both ends of the floor who will help us build a playoff-contending team in Chicago.”
In the wake of a disappointing season that saw them rank ninth in the league with a record of 14-26, the Mystics have made significant changes to their coaching staff. Both coach Eric Thibault and his father, general manager Mike Thibault, were let go. The team brought in Wideman as the new general manager and Sydney Johnson as head coach in December, signaling a new direction for the franchise.
