After failing to reach the Playoffs last season, the Chicago Sky are restructuring their team with new key additions to help Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. One of the new players is Ariel Atkins, who they acquired in a February trade for their No. 3 Draft Pick. The guard is excited to join Chicago and Reese, whom she praised in her introductory conference on March 4th.
“She doesn’t have a ceiling,” said Atkins of her new teammate, according to Chicago Tribune’s Julia Poe. Atkins and Reese have already played together in Unrivaled, as she joined Rose BC as a relief player in February.
Precisely, Reese’s strong performance in Unrivaled, the new 3v3 league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier,has caught the attention of WNBA fans. In her most recent game with Rose BC, Reese scored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in a victory over Laces BC on March 3.
While Reese has always been an astounding rebounder, she has improved her three-point shooting. In Unrivaled, she leads the league with 12.3 rebounds per game, and her ability to finish around the basket has seen significant improvement.
Ariel Atkins has joined Chicago Sky ( Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
In her first season in the WNBA, Reese was in close competition with Caitlin Clark for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year award. However, she had to end her season early due to a wrist injury.
see also
WNBA stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese react to Diana Taurasi’s retirement
The Chicago Sky’s new look and prospects for next Season
Last season, Chicago struggled, finishing with a 13-27 record and failing to make the playoffs. However, management has made significant moves to improve the roster, including adding players like Courtney Vandersloot, Kia Nurse, and Julie Evans.
Meanwhile, Chicago replaced Teresa Weatherspoon with Tyler Marsh, who came from working as an assistant coach for Las Vegas Aces, helping improve players in their two championship campaigns.
When is Unrivaled ending?
The regular season concludes on March 10th, with playoffs wrapping up on March 17th. Four of the league’s teams will make the postseason and a single elimination tournament will determine a champion.
