WASHINGTON — The Sky’s biggest offseason move was trading for Ariel Atkins in exchange for the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, which the Mystics used to select Sonia Citron. So how’s that trade looking almost halfway through the season?
Entering Tuesday’s game in Washington, their numbers were nearly identical: both averaging about 15 points per game, shooting 38% from three-point range and getting to the line 3.5 times per game.
Citron’s rookie year has gone better than most expected. She was named to the All-Star team as a reserve by the league’s coaches, a rare nod for a rookie. Even her coach, Sydney Johnson, said before the game he didn’t realize she was “going to be quite this good.”
Atkins, a two-time All-Star who was not selected this year, got off to a slow start but has played more aggressive lately as she stretches into the role of go-to scorer.
Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca told the Sun-Times that regardless of Atkins’ scoring, he still feels the team got good value from the trade because of her veteran leadership and elite habits. Those intangibles, he said, are helping build chemistry and maximize the team’s young cornerstones: Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
But Johnson also praised Citron’s professionalism and work ethic, saying they set her apart early. And the Mystics will have her for four years guaranteed, while the Sky will have to convince Atkins to stay.
The Sky also gave up swap rights to their 2027 first-round pick in the deal. That means they’ll need to finish ahead of the Mystics in the standings over the next two seasons, or risk handing over the better pick. Entering Tuesday’s game, the Mystics were three spots ahead.
Solidifying roles
Even with Cardoso away on national team duty, the Sky appear to be solidifying roles. Reese looks more comfortable in a playmaking spot, which is new to her at the pro level, even though she handled it plenty in college and high school. Atkins has leaned into the challenge of being a primary scorer.
But the most important shift might be at point guard. After weeks of experimenting with rotations, Rachel Banham has found her footing. A natural shooting guard, she’s handled the ball well. Her assist-to-turnover ratio ranks sixth in the league among qualified players — a key stat for judging point guards. And she’s still getting her shots, hitting nearly 40% on 4.7 three-point attempts per game.
“I think that was it: figuring out how I can get us going in the offense but also find where I can be aggressive and help our team in the way I play,” Banham told the Sun-Times.
On the team’s overall growth in chemistry, Banham said the time together has made a difference.
“You could say [what roles were going to be] in the beginning, but you don’t know until you see it,” she said.
Cardoso’s return
Cardoso and Brazil earned silver in the FIBA AmeriCup on Sunday night in Chile, falling to Team USA in the championship. She didn’t travel with the Sky to Washington, but coach Tyler Marsh said she’ll “hopefully” rejoin the team for Wednesday’s home game against the Wings.
