Ariel Atkins trade grades: Who won the Mystics and Sky deal?
The WNBA offseason continues to be an ongoing roller coaster.
On Sunday evening, the Washington Mystics moved Ariel Atkins. Per ESPN's Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou, the two-time All-Star was traded to the Chicago Sky.
The move signals the end of an era for the Mystics. Atkins was the last standing member of the franchise's 2019 championship team. Under new leadership, trading Atkins also says the Mystics are fully leaning into a rebuild.
Atkins joins the Sky after spending seven seasons with the team that drafted her. During her tenure, she earned numerous honors, including WNBA All-Defensive First Team in 2022.
Trade details:
The Mystics get: No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, a 2027 second-round pick and the rights to swap 2027 first-round picks with Chicago
The Sky get: Guard Ariel Atkins
Washington Mystics grade
Admittedly, I've been questioning the Mystics since moving on from the Thibaults and potentially losing out on Paige Bueckers.
Then, free agency came, and Washington was super quiet. There weren't any splashy signings, only a handful of reserved qualifying offers and training camp contracts.
This led me to ask: What were the Mystics doing?
They were working in the background, and no one would rush them.
"Our goal is to be opportunistic and innovative and strategic as we build a team. Not move at speed for speed’s sake," new general manager Jamila Wideman said.
"So every move that is possible is not necessarily a move that lines up with that kind of goal. We don’t want to rush into anything. Not wanting to rush is different than not making any moves."
Alright, Mystics. I'll buy that. So, what's the plan? A rebuild. However, this isn't just any rebuild. This new foundation starts with *checks notes* three first-round draft picks. WOW.
After the Atkins trade, the Mystics own pick No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 in this year's draft. That's a boatload of draft capital to do a few things. Here are some possible options:
Package the picks to try to move up to get Paige Bueckers
Use all three picks towards the rebuild
Based on additional comments from Wideman, the goal appears to be utilizing the draft assets to select players they can develop and help grow. If that's the case, whew, buddy, THERE ARE OPTIONS.
Washington could potentially draft any combination of Olivia Miles (if she slides that far), Sonia Citron, Aneesah Morrow, Dominique Malonga or Kiki Iriafen. That group of players addresses three positions (guard, forward and center) and does it with some of the best talent in this year's draft. That's a home run situation that seemed impossible months ago.
Now, there's a remaining question: Will the Mystics trade Brittney Sykes, too?
Sykes is a veteran guard with the most expensive salary on the roster. While a phenomenal two-way player, she only appeared in 18 games last season because of lingering injuries. If the Mystics also wanted to move Sykes, a team like the New York Liberty, who needs a guard, might be interested.
Trade Grade: A
Chicago Sky grade
At first glance, I was really excited at the thought of Ariel Atkins joining the Sky. She creates space with her off-ball movement, can heat up at any moment (a bucket-getter), and is a very good defender.
All Chicago had to do was give up this year's first-round pick. That's great. Right? Sure it is—until I saw the rest of the trade.
Excuse me. I need a moment. I just fell to my knees in Target.
I AM UNWELL.
Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca agreed to swap 2027 first-round picks and gave away a second-round pick. Why is that significant? The 2027 draft is the JuJu Watkins and Hannah Hidalgo draft class.
*DRAMATIC GULP*
Madison Booker, Audi Crooks, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams, KK Arnold and Zoe Brooks could also be in the class.
I AM ON THE FLOOR WEEPING LIKE A CHILD.
Agreeing to that pick swap means Chicago is in win-now mode and likely believes it will be in a better position than Washington by then. While that notion is possible, if Ariel Atkins walks away in 2026, this will be a disastrous move.
The league is expected to have a new CBA that year, and anyone not on a rookie-scale contract will be a free agent. That means Chicago would have given up so much capital for a one-year rental.
DO NOT LIKE. DO NOT PASS GO. DO NOT COLLECT $200.
This is a massive gamble, and I'm not entirely convinced this move will work out well. Maybe Chicago knows something about the top part of the draft that convinced them to get out. Sure, I could accept that. But the potential ramifications are far too significant for my liking.
Trade Grade: C-
More WNBA!
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A'ja Wilson explained why she said she hates being A'ja Wilson some days
2025 WNBA Mock Draft 1.0: Paige Bueckers is a lock at No. 1, but how far does Olivia Miles slide?
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ariel Atkins trade grades: Who won the Mystics and Sky deal?
