In February, the Chicago Sky traded the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for Washington Mystics star Ariel Atkins. The move was criticized by some — because while Atkins is a two-time All-Star, she only has one year left on her deal, and isn’t a megstar. And, a potential projected No. 3 pick — Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles — seemed like she could be a great fit alongside Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, given that she’s a strong playmaker and an elite three-point shooter.
Chicago Sky’s big offseason move makes perfect sense now
The Chicago Sky traded their No. 2 pick for Ariel Atkins. That move looks a lot smarter now that Olivia Miles has deferred her draft eligibility.
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Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Now, just a few weeks later, the trade appears to be a more shrewd move than it initially seemed. Miles unexpectedly announced that rather than enter the 2025 WNBA Draft, she would enter the transfer portal and use her final year of NCAA eligibility. She’s not the only projected first-round pick to choose to delay her WNBA eligibility; UConn star guard Azzi Fudd similarly opted to return to Connecticut.
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There are still other promising picks at No. 3, like French center Dominique Malonga and USC forward Kiki Iriafen, but the Sky already have a strong frontcourt headlined by Reese and Cardoso. Malonga is a particularly intriguing prospect given her size (she’s 6’6), but she would be a better fit on a team that needs frontcourt players. Iriaifen would similarly be duplicative on a Sky team that already includes two young post players.
There are plenty of other promising players in the 2025 draft class, but the Sky can use their other first-round draft pick — the No. 10 pick — to select an impactful player. There should be a slew of young guards potentially available in the late first round, such as TCU’s Hailey Van Lith, Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore, and Maryland point guard Shyanne Sellers. Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron could also be available, but she’s more likely to be selected earlier in the first round than No. 10.
Ariel Atkins will instantly make the Chicago Sky a competitive team
There isn’t a surefire No. 3 pick that would have fit in better in Chicago than Ariel Atkins will. Atkins, a 28-year-old WNBA veteran, averaged 14.9 points last season and has shot 36.2% in her career. Alongside Courtney Vandersloot, Atkins will form a tantalizing backcourt that should open things up for Reese and Cardoso in the post.
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Time will take what the other WNBA lottery picks will accomplish in their careers, but for now, the decision to give up the No. 3 makes a lot more sense in light of Miles foregoing the draft.
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