Ariel Atkins is Sky High with New Career Records
Atkins ushered in her night with a long three during the first quarter to put the Mystics up 14-10 over Chicago, and she didn’t stop there. By the end of the night, Atkins had set two new career highs with 25 points, besting her previous high of 21, and 7 rebounds, two up on her previous best of 5 – both previous hallmarks also came from games this season. Additionally, she also matched her career high of 4 three-pointers for the third time with her play against the Sky.
Numbers aside, Atkins’ reverse up-and-under layup towards the end of the fourth quarter was a fan favorite and must watch moment for any-and-all who missed it.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
In totality, it was another stellar night for Washington with four players in double digits – Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins, Kristi Toliver and Latoya Sanders. Delle Donne, fresh off her third WNBA Player of the Week nod, was poised to have a big game and did not disappoint. With numbers like 25 points and 4 rebounds, there’s little question as to why she is the leader of this thriving Washington team. In true EDD fashion, when asked about her performance during her postgame interview she immediately threw credit over the Ariel Atkins and her incredible night, saying “I don’t know why you’re talking to me, you should be talking to Ariel.”
The combined 81 points from Washington’s starting five alone would have been enough to best a Chicago team that came prepared to play – the Sky ended the night with 72 points, 31 rebounds and 19 assists.
Forget Noah – Stics are Outside the Arch
EDD and Atkins were not the only Mystics hot behind the arch, Natasha Cloud went 2 for 3 and Kristi Toliver 3 for 5 on the night. As a team, Washington clocked a 47.8% three-point percentage hitting 11 of 23. Comparatively, when stacked against the Sky’s 19% 3PT, 4-21, it is clear that solid play downtown made all the difference and elevated Washington to their third victory over Chicago this season.