Ariel Atkins Stats Season-by-Season Numbers
Ariel Atkins stats tell the story of a WNBA guard who has developed from a promising rookie into an experienced two-way player. Since entering the league in 2018, Atkins has combined perimeter scoring, three-point shooting and high-level defense while playing important roles for several teams.
Atkins was selected seventh overall by the Washington Mystics in the 2018 WNBA Draft after a successful college career at Texas. She spent her first seven WNBA seasons in Washington, helped the Mystics win the 2019 championship, and earned All-Defensive recognition in each of her first five seasons. She also became a two-time WNBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist.
Her statistical profile has changed over time. She averaged 11.3 points per game as a rookie, reached 16.2 points per game in 2021, and produced a career-best 14.9 points per game during the 2024 regular season while also setting career highs in assists and rebounds.
Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ariel Atkins |
| Date of Birth | July 30, 1996 |
| Age | 30 as of August 2026 |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin |
| Years Active | 2018–present |
| Known For | WNBA career, defense, three-point shooting and Team USA |
| Major Achievements | WNBA champion, two-time WNBA All-Star, Olympic gold medalist, five-time All-Defensive selection |
Ariel Atkins Stats: Season-by-Season Overview
The easiest way to understand Atkins’ career is to look at how her production changed from year to year. Her scoring increased substantially after her rookie season, while her role expanded beyond being a perimeter defender and spot-up shooter.
The table below summarizes her regular-season production through 2025. The 2026 season is still in progress, Ariel Atkins Stats so current numbers should be treated as a snapshot rather than a completed-season total.
| Season | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | FG% | 3P% |
| 2018 | Washington Mystics | 29 | 11.3 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 43.2% | 35.7% |
| 2019 | Washington Mystics | 33 | 10.3 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 41.6% | 35.7% |
| 2020 | Washington Mystics | 22 | 14.8 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 43.8% | 41.1% |
| 2021 | Washington Mystics | 30 | 16.2 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 40.7% | 35.9% |
| 2022 | Washington Mystics | 36 | 14.6 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 42.0% | 36.5% |
| 2023 | Washington Mystics | 27 | 11.5 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 41.4% | 33.9% |
| 2024 | Washington Mystics | 40 | 14.9 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 43.7% | 35.7% |
| 2025 | Chicago Sky | 34 | 13.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 44.4% | 36.1% |
| 2026* | Los Angeles Sparks | Ongoing | 9.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 | — | — | — |
*2026 figures are a current-season snapshot and will change as the season continues. The WNBA’s current player page lists Atkins with 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
The completed-season statistics from 2018 through 2025 are supported by ESPN’s career statistics table, while the 2025 figures are also reflected in Basketball-Reference’s Chicago Sky statistics.
A Strong Rookie Beginning
Atkins made an immediate impact in her first WNBA season.
She played 29 regular-season games for Washington, starting 24. She averaged 11.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.5 minutes per game. She shot 43.2% from the field, 35.7% from three-point range and 82.4% from the free-throw line.
Those numbers helped earn Atkins a place on the AP WNBA All-Rookie Team. Her defensive activity was particularly notable, with 1.3 steals per game during her first season.
Rather than needing several seasons to establish herself, Atkins quickly became a dependable rotation player.
Championship Season
Atkins’ scoring dipped slightly to 10.3 points per game in 2019, but her overall contribution remained important.
She averaged 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals in 33 games. She also started every game she played. Her three-point shooting remained steady at 35.7%.
The season became especially memorable because Washington won its first WNBA championship. Atkins was part of a team that combined elite defense with one of the league’s strongest overall rotations.
Her defensive reputation also continued to grow. She was selected to the All-Defensive Second Team for the second consecutive season.
Offensive Growth
The 2020 season represented a significant statistical step forward.
Atkins increased her scoring average to 14.8 points per game, while also recording 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals. Her shooting improved as well: she made 43.8% of her field-goal attempts and an impressive 41.1% from three-point range.
Her 31.0 minutes per game showed that Washington was relying on her for a much larger role.
This season demonstrated that Atkins could contribute more than defensive intensity. Her ability to stretch the floor and convert perimeter opportunities made her a more complete offensive option.
Career Scoring Peak
The 2021 season remains one of the most statistically productive campaigns of Atkins’ career.
She averaged 16.2 points per game, which remains her highest single-season scoring average. She also contributed 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Her workload increased to 30.6 minutes per game, reflecting her importance to Washington’s offense.
Atkins’ scoring growth was not simply about taking more shots. She continued to provide defensive value while becoming a more significant scoring option on the perimeter.
The season also helped establish her as an All-Star-level player. She was selected to her first WNBA All-Star team in 2021.
All-Star and Defensive Recognition
Atkins remained highly productive in 2022, averaging 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists over 36 games.
Her 36.5% three-point shooting showed that she continued to provide reliable perimeter spacing, while her 42.0% overall field-goal percentage represented a solid shooting season.
She was also named an All-Star again and earned WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors. That recognition was particularly significant because it capped a remarkable run of five straight seasons in which she appeared on an All-Defensive team.
A Different Offensive Role
Atkins’ scoring average fell to 11.5 points per game in 2023, but the decline did not mean her overall game became less valuable.
She averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals while playing 25.1 minutes per game. Her three-point percentage dropped to 33.9%.
The season is a useful reminder that points per game alone do not describe a player’s complete contribution.
Atkins continued to defend, create opportunities for teammates and provide experience in Washington’s backcourt. Her ability to contribute in multiple areas remained one of the defining characteristics of her career.
Career-Best Scoring Total
The 2024 season was one of Atkins’ most productive statistical years.
She appeared in all 40 regular-season games and averaged 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals. She shot 43.7% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
Her 597 total points were a new single-season career high, surpassing her previous mark of 527 points in 2022. She also established career highs in assists and rebounds per game.
One of the defining moments of the season came on July 14, when Atkins scored a career-high 36 points against the Las Vegas Aces. She made 13 field goals in that game, including six three-pointers.
That performance showed the scoring ceiling that had developed over her WNBA career.
Chicago Sky
Atkins moved to the Chicago Sky for the 2025 season after Washington traded her to Chicago. The transaction ended her seven-year run with the Mystics.
With Chicago, she averaged:
- 13.1 points per game
- 3.4 rebounds per game
- 3.6 assists per game
- 1.6 steals per game
- 44.4% field-goal shooting
- 36.1% three-point shooting
- 86.0% free-throw shooting
She played 34 games, starting all of them.
Her 3.6 assists per game were particularly notable because they represented another step forward as a playmaker. Atkins was no longer simply a scorer and perimeter defender; she was also contributing more consistently as a facilitator.
Current Season Snapshot
For the 2026 season, Atkins is playing for the Los Angeles Sparks. The WNBA currently lists her as a guard and shows season averages of 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game at the current point in the season.
Because the 2026 regular season is ongoing, these figures should not be treated as final season statistics.
Her move to Los Angeles followed a trade from Chicago in April 2026. The Sparks acquired Atkins in exchange for Rickea Jackson.
The change of team gives her another opportunity to contribute her experience, perimeter defense and shooting to a different roster.
What Do Ariel Atkins’ Stats Say About Her Playing Style?
Atkins’ statistics show a player whose value extends beyond scoring.
Scoring
Her career scoring average through 2025 was 13.4 points per game, with her highest completed-season average coming in 2021 at 16.2.
She has generally been most effective as a complementary scorer rather than a high-volume primary offensive engine.
Three-Point Shooting
Three-point shooting has been a consistent part of her offensive profile.
She has shot 36.2% from three for her career through 2025, according to ESPN’s career statistics.
Her best three-point season among the years listed above was 2020, when she converted 41.1% of her attempts from beyond the arc.
Playmaking
Atkins’ assist numbers have gradually become more significant.
She averaged 2.1 assists as a rookie and reached 3.6 assists per game with Chicago in 2025. That progression suggests an expanded role in creating offense for teammates.
Defense
Traditional box-score statistics do not fully capture Atkins’ defensive value.
Her career has been strongly associated with perimeter defense. She made an All-Defensive team in each of her first five WNBA seasons, including First Team recognition in 2022. The WNBA identifies her as the first player in league history to accomplish that feat.
Career Highs and Notable Numbers
Some of Atkins’ most useful career benchmarks include:
| Category | Career High |
| Single-game points | 36 |
| Single-game field goals made | 13 |
| Single-game three-pointers made | 6 |
| Single-game rebounds | 10 |
| Single-game assists | 7 |
| Single-game steals | 6 |
| Single-season points | 597 |
| Highest PPG season | 16.2 in 2021 |
Her 36-point performance against Las Vegas in 2024 established the single-game scoring mark, ariel atkins stats while her 597 points in that season became her highest total for a regular season.
Ariel Atkins’ Career Achievements
Statistics are only part of Atkins’ career story. Her résumé includes several major accomplishments:
- 2019 WNBA champion
- 2021 WNBA All-Star
- 2022 WNBA All-Star
- 2020 Olympic gold medalist
- 2022 WNBA All-Defensive First Team
- WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021
- 2018 WNBA All-Rookie Team
The WNBA lists five All-Defensive selections and identifies Atkins as an Olympic gold medalist and two-time All-Star.
Her international résumé also includes appearances for Team USA at major competitions. FIBA records her participation in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic tournament and the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
How Have Ariel Atkins’ Stats Changed Over Time?
The overall progression is easier to understand when viewed in stages.
2018–2019: Atkins established herself as a reliable young guard and defender.
2020–2022: Her offensive responsibility increased significantly. This period included her 16.2-point-per-game peak in 2021 and consecutive All-Star selections.
2023: Her scoring decreased, but she remained a versatile contributor.
2024: Atkins reached a new statistical peak in total points while also producing career-best averages in rebounds and assists.
2025: With Chicago, she maintained double-digit scoring while recording a career-best 3.6 assists per game.
2026: Her role has changed again with Los Angeles, and her season numbers remain in progress.
This progression illustrates why looking only at points per game can be misleading. Atkins’ responsibilities, minutes, teammates and team systems have changed throughout her career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Ariel Atkins’ career stats?
Through the 2025 regular season, Atkins had played 251 games and averaged 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She had started 246 of those games.
What was Ariel Atkins’ best scoring season?
Her highest scoring average in a completed WNBA season was 16.2 points per game in 2021.
What was Ariel Atkins’ career-high scoring game?
Atkins scored 36 points against the Las Vegas Aces on July 14, 2024. She also made 13 field goals and six three-pointers in the game.
How many All-Star selections does Ariel Atkins have?
Atkins has been selected to the WNBA All-Star team twice, in 2021 and 2022.
Is Ariel Atkins known for defense?
Yes. Defense has been one of the defining parts of her career. She earned All-Defensive recognition in each of her first five WNBA seasons and was named to the First Team in 2022.
What team does Ariel Atkins play for?
As of the 2026 WNBA season, Atkins plays for the Los Angeles Sparks.
What was Ariel Atkins’ 2025 scoring average?
She averaged 13.1 points per game for the Chicago Sky in 2025, along with 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals.
Where did Ariel Atkins play college basketball?
Atkins played college basketball at the University of Texas at Austin. She finished her college career with 1,497 points and was selected seventh overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
Conclusion
Ariel Atkins’ statistics reveal a WNBA career built on steady development rather than a single dimension of production. She entered the league as a promising defensive guard, developed into a stronger scorer, reached a career-best 16.2 points per game in 2021, and later expanded her playmaking responsibilities.
Her 2024 season was especially productive, producing 14.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while setting a career high with 597 total points. In 2025, she continued to contribute across the box score for Chicago, averaging 13.1 points and a career-best 3.6 assists per game.
The most important takeaway from Ariel Atkins stats is that her impact cannot be measured by scoring alone. Her shooting, assists, steals, defensive recognition and championship experience have all contributed to her value. With the 2026 season continuing in Los Angeles, her latest numbers will provide another chapter in an already accomplished WNBA career.
