Chicago Sky’s big offseason move makes perfect sense now

In February, Chicago Sky replaced its third pick in 2025 WNBA Draft of Washington Mystic Star Ariel Atkins. The move has been criticized by some. Because, although Atkins is a two-time All-Star, she has only been in her deal for a year and is not a Megstar. And the potentially projected No. 3 picks – Notre Dame Guard Olivia Miles – Considering she is a powerful playmaker and an elite three-point shooter, she seemed like a perfect fit alongside Angel Reese and Kamila Cardo Soh.

Just a few weeks later, the deal appears to be a smarter move than it originally appeared. Rather than entering the 2025 WNBA Draft, Miles unexpectedly announced that he would enter the transfer portal and use the final year of NCAA eligibility. She isn't just the first round pick to choose to delay WNBA eligibility. uconn Starguard Aji Fad has also opted to return to Connecticut.

There are still third and other promising picks, including French centre Dominique Malonga and USC forward Kiki Iliafen, but Sky already has a strong frontcourt found by Lease and Cardoso. Malonga is a particularly interesting prospect given her size (she's 6'6), but she's more suited to the teams that need frontcourt players. Iliaifen will likely be similarly overlapping with SkyTeam, which already includes two young post players.

There are many other promising players in the 2025 draft class, but Sky can use other first-round draft picks (10th pick) to select impactful players. There should be plenty of potentially available young security guards in the first round of the second half. TCUof Hailey Van Lys, Georgia Amoor of Kentucky, and Point Guard Channe Sellers of Maryland. Notre Dame Guard's Sonia Citron could also be used, but she's more likely to be chosen over No. 10 early in the first round.

Ariel Atkins instantly makes Chicago skies a competitive team

There's no guaranteed third pick that fits better in Chicago than Ariel Atkins. The 28-year-old WNBA veteran Atkins averaged 14.9 points last season, earning 36.2% in her career. Side by Courtney VanderslootAtkins forms an appetizing backcoat to open things up for Lease and Caldoso in the post.

Photo by Stephen Gosling/Nbae via Getty Images

It will take time for other WNBA lottery picks to achieve in their careers, but for now the decision to give up number 3 makes much more sense in light of the draft in the aforementioned miles.