Tyler Marsh Names Player Who Improved Chicago Sky’s Locker Room Dynamics in Angel Reese’s Absence

You can’t put a price on experience. When Angel Reese went down on July 29, the Chicago Sky didn’t just lose their leading rebounder and top scorer; it was as if the heart of the team stopped beating. Reese was averaging nearly a double-double every night, and her absence left a hole that numbers alone can’t describe. But in that moment of crisis, one veteran quietly took control of the wheel. That player was Ariel Atkins .

The WNBA champion and two-time All-Star didn’t take long to establish herself in Chicago after leaving the Washington Mystics. She embraced the city, embraced the jersey, and when the locker room’s morale threatened to crumble, Atkins reminded everyone what true leadership looks like. This leadership quality, both on and off the court, was recently lauded by Chicago