Chicago Sky’s New Powerhouse: How Ariel Atkins could turn the tide in Angel Reese’s battle against Caitlin Clark

The Chicago Sky have activated their “win-now” mode. The team is aggressively negotiating to strengthen their core of players, surrounding second-year players Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso with enough talent to be a serious threat to anyone, including Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.

So far this offseason, the Sky have signed Kia Nurse in free agency, traded Lindsay Allen for Rebecca Allen with the Connecticut Sun, and signed Arella Guirantes to a contract for the upcoming training camps.

To these moves, Chicago added an explosive trade with the Washington Mystics, in which they received experienced guard Ariel Atkins in exchange for a concessions package that includes the Sky’s first pick in the 2025 WBA Draft, third overall.

The future of the Chicago Sky

Last season, the Sky fell short of the playoffs, finishing the regular season with a record of 13 wins, 27 losses, and a five-game losing streak. The result was deeply felt by the front office, especially after selecting Reese with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 Draft.

The arrival of Reese and Cardoso did not have the impact that the team and fans expected. Therefore, the front office decided to shift the focus from a long-term rebuild to an aggressive push to achieve the desired results this season.

The arrival of Atkins-a seven-year veteran, 2019 champion with the Mystics, two-time All-Star, and one of the best defenders in the league-is expected to yield immediate results alongside Reese, Cardoso, and Chennedy Carter.

Indiana Fever in the crosshairs

One of the reasons for the Sky’s push is undoubtedly to match or surpass the success the Fever had with the arrival of Caitlin Clark. Atkins could be the missing piece for the team, protecting the rim alongside Cardoso and giving Reese the freedom to focus on offense.

If the veteran can complement the Sk’s young guns, the team will be a serious threat not only to the Fever but also to Eastern Conference powerhouses like the Sun and the New York Liberty. Time will tell if this is the right approach.