Ariel Atkins

Last updated
Ariel Atkins
Atkins5-20180919.jpg
Atkins with the Washington Mystics in 2023
No. 7Washington Mystics
Position Shooting guard
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-07-30) July 30, 1996 (age 27)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight167 lb (76 kg)
Career information
High school Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)
College Texas (2014–2018)
WNBA draft 2018: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Mystics
Playing career2018–present
Coaching career2023–present
Career history
As player:
2018–present Washington Mystics
2018–2019InvestInTheWest ENEA Gorzów
2019–2020 Perth Lynx
2020 Elazığ İl Özel İdarespor
As coach:
2023–present Michigan
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2020 Tokyo Team
World Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Australia

Ariel Atkins (born July 30, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In addition to her playing career, she serves as a player development coach at the University of Michigan. [1] during the off-season.

Contents

Drafted 7th overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2018 WNBA draft, Atkins quickly established herself as a key player. She helped lead the Mystics to the WNBA Finals in her debut season and was a pivotal figure in their 2019 WNBA Championship victory. Atkins' defensive prowess earned her 4 selections to the WNBA All-Defensive Team so far in her career.

College

Born in Dallas, Texas, Atkins attended Duncanville in Duncanville, Texas. She played college basketball at the University of Texas, where she was recognized for her athletic performance.

Career

At the 2018 WNBA draft, Atkins was drafted by the Washington Mystics in the first round, as the seventh overall pick. [2] Atkins would join a Mystics line-up alongside players such as Elena Delle Donne, Kristi Toliver & Natasha Cloud. In August 2018, Atkins was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in her debut season. [3] Later in September 2018, Atkins was also named to the All-Rookie Team. [4]

On October 10, 2019, Atkins and the Mystics took home their first WNBA Championship after defeating the Connecticut Sun, 3–2. [5] In September 2020, Atkins was named to the All-Defensive Second Team for the third time in her three career seasons. [6]

In August 2023, Atkins signed a multi-year extension to stay in Washington with the Mystics. [7]

Atkins has also played internationally. She spent the 2018–19 season with InvestInTheWest ENEA Gorzów Wielkopolski in Poland and played for the Perth Lynx in Australia during the 2019–20 off-season.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2014–15Texas271923.9.363.288.8253.41.31.20.22.29.7
2015–16Texas271421.0.536.356.8193.91.31.30.21.411.2
2016–17Texas323226.6.456.377.8184.21.62.00.31.412.8
2017–18Texas353527.7.534.420.8595.53.22.50.62.014.9
Career4 years, 1 team12110025.1.475.373.8314.31.91.80.41.712.4

WNBA Regular Season

Denotes seasons in which Atkins won a WNBA championship
WNBA record
YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018 Washington 292422.5.432.357.8242.42.11.30.31.311.3
2019 Washington 333324.3.416.357.8112.81.91.50.51.010.3
2020 Washington 222231.0.438.411.8862.92.41.80.31.914.8
2021 Washington 303030.6.407.359.8312.82.61.60.52.016.2
2022 Washington 363630.0.420.365.8453.32.31.40.31.414.6
2023 Washington 272725.1.414.339.8973.12.31.20.31.311.5
Career6 years, 1 team17717227.2.420.363.8492.92.31.40.41.513.1

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
2018 Washington 9927.9.480.424.8793.71.91.10.10.815.2
2019 Washington 9919.8.373.333.9292.72.30.80.01.27.3
2020 Washington 1136.0.375.0001.0004.04.02.00.00.013.0
2022 Washington 2233.0.379.5001.0001.55.50.50.01.015.5
2023 Washington 2233.5.345.2501.0005.53.02.01.51.513.5
Career5 years, 1 team232326.0.416.371.9073.32.61.10.21.011.9

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References

  1. "Ariel Atkins joins Michigan women's basketball staff". Slam Hoops.
  2. "MYSTICS SELECT ATKINS IN 2018 WNBA DRAFT". mystics.wnba.com.
  3. "Defensive POY Alana Beard Leads 2018 All-Defensive First Team". wnba.com.
  4. "Diamond DeShields, A'ja Wilson Headline 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team". wnba.com.
  5. "Bringing It Home: Delle Donne, Mystics Earn First WNBA Crown". wnba.com.
  6. "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com.
  7. "Ariel Atkins Signs Multi-Year Extension". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 16 August 2023.