“It’s her willingness to be more aggressive, and she’s thinking less,”—well, that’s what Head Coach Tyler Marsh had to say about Ariel Atkins. And to be honest, every bit of that phrase is true. Ever since veteran Courtney Vandersloot went down due to an ACL tear, it has been Atkins leading the locker room and, yes, doing whatever it takes to deliver. And if you still have any doubt, just consider her 27-point performance against the league’s top-ranked team, the Minnesota Lynx. But once again, Sky’s misfortune has struck, and Atkins will not be able to sparkle anymore on the court for some time!

It all came up as the Sky stepped onto the court for a rematch with the Lynx, a team they seemed confident about facing since they had already defeated them once before. And by halftime, it looked as if the Sky were going to do it again, trailing by just four points. But just before the break, Atkins, who had just two points in 15 minutes, drove hard toward the wing, ball in hand, with Courtney Williams defending. As she jumped, something didn’t look right, and she was in pain when she headed to the locker room.

And then came the news that she wouldn’t return. But this wasn’t the only blow to the Sky, as even Michaela Onyenwere went down. For her, it happened in the final three minutes of the game. It was when Cardoso collided with her while trying to set a screen, and the result was Michaela going down hard, as she stayed on the floor after the impact. And when the entire team rushed over to check on her, clearly concerned, she eventually got up and made her way off the court, but that effectively sealed the result for the Lynx. Ever since, there’s been growing concern about the possible return timeline for both players, and yes, HC Marsh did speak up on that.

So when asked about Atkins and Michaela in the postgame conference, he shared: “Yeah, I think Michaela’s fine. No concussion or anything. Ariel is still being analyzed.” Well, that’s a mixed bag. And while Michaela’s update sounds positive, the one around Atkins is a bright red flag, if anything.

That’s because she entered the game as Chicago’s leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points on 42.6% shooting and 35.9% from deep. And with the Sky’s guard depth already hanging by a thread, this isn’t an ideal situation. But yes, Atkins knows how to navigate this terrain. Back in 2023 with the Mystics, she was carried off the court with what looked like a serious ankle injury. She missed a few weeks then, so she’s been here before. Still, losing her now might cost the Sky dearly, especially since Atkins checks all the boxes the franchise needs.

We’re not the only ones saying this, the GM did too: “When we have an opportunity to add somebody that checks the boxes that we’re looking forward to, to get us closer—not alone the playoffs, but to get closer to a championship again—that’s why we did what we did with Ariel.” And after this game, it’s starting to reflect.

Just consider this: Sky couldn’t pull off the upset this time, as the final score was 91–78. Reese did her thing again, dropping 22 points and grabbing 10 defensive boards. But while the star sophomore continues to shine, it was a reminder that the Sky’s overall struggles haven’t gone away, as the team has had a tough time finding consistency. So, the team needs Atkins on the floor. Her stats are one thing, but even her presence is very crucial.

The Chicago Sky looks for their leader as they sail crucial time!

When the Chicago Sky traded for Ariel Atkins, they didn’t just gain a former WNBA champion; they gained a voice the locker room could lean on. As one of the league’s most respected two-way guards, Atkins brought not only defensive firepower and playoff experience, but also the poise and maturity needed to stabilize a young, evolving roster under first-year Head Coach Tyler Marsh. Her importance just enhanced even more with veteran Courtney Vandersloot sidelined due to a torn ACL. The Sky needed someone who could carry leadership weight both on the floor and behind the scenes, and Atkins has done just that.

Her impact was perhaps most visible not during a win, but after a blowout loss to the New York Liberty on June 10. Sitting beside Angel Reese, who had just delivered one of her best games of the season, Atkins pushed back at the criticism aimed at the 23-year-old star. “This is a 23-year-old kid and the amount of crap that she gets on day-to-day, and she still shows up,” Atkins said, firmly standing up for her teammate. She further called out the constant scrutiny and unrealistic expectations placed on Reese. “Her crown is heavy,” she added, “so whatever else y’all wanna come at her for … she has to build a wall. Because if she doesn’t, people will break her down.”

Well, that kind of vocal support doesn’t just build chemistry, it establishes culture. So, you know what she brings to the court, but what makes her presence even more important is that the Chicago Sky are now gearing up for a critical rematch against the Atlanta Dream.

That’s because the Sky is are jostling for playoff positioning just before the All-Star break. And the Dream is no small opponent. Atlanta already holds a 93–80 win over Chicago behind Rhyne Howard’s 22-point performance, and the Dream’s balance of experienced stars like Brittney Griner and Allisha Gray with rising talents has been difficult to stop. In that game, Atkins exploded for 29 points. So, of course, they need that energy again. But then, it would be wise to make the decision to play her carefully. The team does not want to run a risk of worsening her injury.