Reese has provided her own lift as the league\u2019s top defensive rebounder any way you slice it.<\/p>\n
But the project of the season hasn\u2019t been about continuing those past strengths. It\u2019s been about growing into new roles. Head coach Tyler Marsh envisioned Reese as a playmaking hub, not just a rebounding machine. And the Sky envisioned Atkins as more than a defensive stopper and midrange master \u2014 someone who could carry the team offensively.<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve needed it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really struggle when Ariel is not aggressive getting shots up,\u201d Marsh said after a close loss to the Aces earlier this week. \u201cThe games that we have won \u2026 have been her higher attempted games.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Sky don\u2019t have many natural playmakers or volume scorers in the backcourt, so much falls on Atkins. But Atkins has never averaged more than 13 shot attempts per game in her career, well below top guards like Ionescu or Kelsey Mitchell. Taking more shots is an even bigger challenge when she\u2019s also guarding the opponent\u2019s best player.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s used to taking on tough assignments defensively,\u201d Marsh said. \u201cThe combination of the two is something that she\u2019s still growing into for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her season hasn\u2019t fully revealed if this is the role that maximizes her game. Atkins\u2019 field-goal attempts (11 per game) and scoring average (13.7) are both down from last season, but her impact is unmistakable. The Sky\u2019s offensive rating drops almost 15% when she\u2019s off the court. She\u2019s scored 20-plus points in seven games this year, including 30 against the Aces.<\/p>\n
Her voice has mattered too. She\u2019s steady in practice \u2014 repeating play calls so everyone hears, encouraging shooters. And she asserts herself to defend the team and her teammates in public.<\/p>\n
When Reese\u2019s early season struggles became the subject of sometimes nasty online debate, Atkins called for empathy.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a 23-year-old kid,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd the amount of crap that she gets on the day to day and she still shows up. Her crown is heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n After the loss to the Aces, Atkins put the team\u2019s record in perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re still learning as a team,\u201d she said. \u201cI know some people probably don\u2019t like the way that sounds, be it that we\u2019re toward the end of the season, but I don\u2019t really care. Our goal is to build a foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n The question is whether she\u2019ll be part of it long term.<\/p>\n Reese\u2019s evolution has already made her central to the Sky\u2019s future<\/a>. She\u2019s posted a league-leading 21 double-doubles and her first career triple-double \u2014 a glimpse of the Alyssa Thomas-style impact Marsh envisions<\/a>. And she\u2019s still only two years into her rookie contract.<\/p>\n Atkins\u2019 situation is less certain. The Sky took a risk to acquire her, giving up a lottery pick \u2014 the chance at a four-year rookie deal. Now it\u2019s her choice whether to stay.<\/p>\n Do her comments about building a foundation suggest she will? Atkins told the Sun-Times it\u2019s too soon to know.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me it\u2019s about leaving places better than you found them, regardless if you\u2019re here next year or not,\u201d she said. \u201cAt the end of the day, this is part of my journey. I don\u2019t waste my time. I\u2019m intentional about everything I do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Angel Reese helped keep it close with her 21st double-double this season, but turnovers continue to haunt the Sky.<\/p>\n [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone] read<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/a71146b\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4929x3286+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdc%2Fe7%2F006d2206458ba5afacac5d29ea8c%2Freese-and-at.jpg\")
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