2025 No. 3 draft pick WNBA The draft will no longer play for Chicago Sky next season. That's because the sky traded it with Washington mystic Ariel Atkins. Reported by ESPN's Alexa Phillipou on sunday. As part of the trade, the mystics will also receive the 2027 first round pick swap and the 2027 Chicago second round pick.
The decision to trade Atkins for the mystic shows the desire to rebuild around the next promising young core Aaliyah Edwards. Atkins, a major Mystics scorer last season, leaves after spending the first seven years of his career with the organization. Washington will pair with the 2025 No. 3 pick and last year's No. 6 pick. Edwards had a solid rookie season, but she played in the other professional 3-3 basketball leagues, a new professional women's 3-3 basketball league that will be held in Miami until March, and she was able to play in the game. appears to have been raised to another level.
But for the sky, this trade appears to indicate a level of urgency to win faster than later.
What Ariel Atkins brings to Chicago
Chicago will be in the list of improvements next season, featuring offseason acquisitions Courtney Vandersloot, Kia nurseRebecca Allen and Atkins, and the front court standout Camila Cardoso and the return journey Angel Wreath.
Vandersloot is a veteran point guard and will almost clearly enhance Reese and Cardoso's play, while Allen is an experienced three-point shooter and a solid defender who helps them cross the Chicago floor into space. Meanwhile, the nurse joined the organization via free agency a year after the Los Angeles Sparks, holding a career average of 9.3 points and 2.5 rebounds.
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Atkins is a two-time All-Star, former US Olympian and elite two-way player. Last year, she averaged 14.9 points per game, shooting 42.7% and 3-35.7% from the field.
She averages double digit points in each of her seven WNBA seasons. She is also the first player in WNBA history to be named to an all-defensive team in each of the first five seasons. Earlier this week, Atkins, in other opinions, announced as the latest relief contract player. Previously, Atkins played professionally for Turkish club Fenerbafe this winter.
At the age of 28, Atkins is in Athletic Prime and should help raise the empty roster immediately at both ends. The decision to abandon the third pick for her is veteran, which began when Chicago wanted to increase the chances of a 2025 victory season and Vandersloot agreed to sign the team last month It appears to be following the pattern of obtaining.
Atkins will definitely improve next year's roster and offer versatile scoring options to defend. However, in getting her, Sky gave up a promising choice, although set to a stacked draft class. This is a decision that can be costly in the long term.
