Latest news with #ArielAtkins
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Share Exciting News on Friday
Chicago Sky Share Exciting News on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game is coming to Indianapolis later this summer, bringing star power and plenty of excitement. Last season's event took place in Phoenix, where Team WNBA defeated Team USA 117-109. This year, the league is looking to deliver another thrilling showcase. Advertisement Arike Ogunbowale took home her third All-Star Game MVP and will be one of several big names drawing attention this summer. Expect breakout performances, highlight plays and plenty of memorable moments. Voting for the All-Star game is underway, and on Friday, the Chicago Sky shared a special message with fans: "YOUR VOTE COUNTS TWICE TODAY. 🗳️ Tap in on the WNBA app or 🫡." While the Sky have had a rough start to the season, sitting at 3-8 through 11 games, they're still pushing hard to get three of their players into the All-Star game. Chicago hosts Phoenix on Saturday, coming off a seven-point home loss to Washington. Advertisement Leading the campaign is second-year forward Angel Reese. After winning an NCAA title at LSU, Reese was drafted in the first round of the 2024 WNBA Draft. She's averaging 11.0 points and a team-best 11.7 rebounds per game. Reese made the All-Star team last year and is aiming for a return appearance. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).David Butler II-Imagn Images Guard Ariel Atkins is another standout. She leads the Sky in scoring with 12.6 points per game and adds 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, bringing consistency to both ends of the court. The third All-Star hopeful is rookie center Kamilla Cardoso. She's playing 22.9 minutes per game, averaging 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds, making a strong impact early in her WNBA career. Advertisement The Sky are currently without veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Before her injury, she was averaging 10.6 points per game and served as a key floor leader. As the All-Star game approaches, fans can still influence the rosters. For the Sky, Friday's double-vote opportunity is a timely boost to support Reese, Atkins and Cardoso as they chase spots in Indianapolis. Related: Caitlin Clark Sends Clear Message to Lexie Hull in New Post on Wednesday Related: WNBA Star Sends Clear Caitlin Clark Message After Fever Loss This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Phoenix visits Chicago following Akoa Makani's 21-point game
Phoenix Mercury (10-4, 6-4 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (3-8, 1-6 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury visits the Chicago Sky after Monique Akoa Makani scored 21 points in the Mercury's 89-81 victory over the New York Liberty. The Sky have gone 1-3 in home games. Chicago is fifth in the Eastern Conference at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 86.3 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting. The Mercury are 4-2 in road games. Phoenix ranks eighth in the WNBA with 33.8 rebounds per game. Satou Sabally paces the Mercury with 8.5. Chicago's average of 6.4 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix averages 80.5 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 86.3 Chicago allows to opponents. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 94-89 in the last matchup on May 28. Sabally led the Mercury with 20 points, and Ariel Atkins led the Sky with 21 points. TOP PERFORMERS: Atkins is averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds over the past 10 games. Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, nine assists and 1.8 steals for the Mercury. Sabally is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 3-7, averaging 77.0 points, 35.7 rebounds, 19.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.6 points per game. Mercury: 7-3, averaging 81.9 points, 34.2 rebounds, 20.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.3 points. INJURIES: Sky: Moriah Jefferson: out (leg), Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). Mercury: Megan McConnell: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phoenix visits Chicago following Akoa Makani's 21-point game
Phoenix Mercury (10-4, 6-4 Western Conference) at Chicago Sky (3-8, 1-6 Eastern Conference) Chicago; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury visits the Chicago Sky after Monique Akoa Makani scored 21 points in the Mercury's 89-81 victory over the New York Liberty. Advertisement The Sky have gone 1-3 in home games. Chicago is fifth in the Eastern Conference at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 86.3 points while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting. The Mercury are 4-2 in road games. Phoenix ranks eighth in the WNBA with 33.8 rebounds per game. Satou Sabally paces the Mercury with 8.5. Chicago's average of 6.4 made 3-pointers per game is 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix averages 80.5 points per game, 5.8 fewer points than the 86.3 Chicago allows to opponents. The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 94-89 in the last matchup on May 28. Sabally led the Mercury with 20 points, and Ariel Atkins led the Sky with 21 points. Advertisement TOP PERFORMERS: Atkins is averaging 12.6 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the Sky. Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds over the past 10 games. Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, nine assists and 1.8 steals for the Mercury. Sabally is averaging 19.5 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Sky: 3-7, averaging 77.0 points, 35.7 rebounds, 19.6 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 42.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 85.6 points per game. Mercury: 7-3, averaging 81.9 points, 34.2 rebounds, 20.3 assists, 8.5 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.3 points. Advertisement INJURIES: Sky: Moriah Jefferson: out (leg), Courtney Vandersloot: out for season (acl). Mercury: Megan McConnell: out (knee). ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Inside Angel Reese's 1st Career Triple-Double During Chicago Sky's 78-66 Win Over Connecticut Sun
Things are starting to look up for Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. During their June 14 matchup against the Connecticut Sun, the "Bayou Barbie" recorded her first career triple-double, finishing the game with an impressive stat line that's left everyone wanting more. Angel Reese Ties Caitlin Clark As The Only Other Player This WNBA Season To Earn A Triple-Double Posting double-doubles has become Reese's signature. In fact, the WNBA star etched her name in the record books during her rookie season in 2024 with a record 15 consecutive double-doubles. Advertisement Against the Sun, she notched her latest one early in the second half, putting her officially on 'triple-double watch' heading into the final minutes. Needing just one more assist late in the fourth quarter, Reese found veteran teammate Ariel Atkins, who knocked down a mid-range jumper to secure the milestone. In celebration, the 23-year-old flashed ten fingers toward her bench. With the achievement, Reese joins Caitlin Clark in the exclusive club of players to record a triple-double this season. Fans React To Angel Reese's First Triple-Double Of Her Career On social media, the praise for Reese began to pour in immediately. Advertisement The Chicago Sky official X account wrote, "Angel triple double, HVL masterclass, Five players in double digits, Dubs in the chat, #Skytown on top!" Another user posted, "Angel got a triple-double. Say what you want, but sis has put an imprint on this game." "11 ASSISTS with ONLY 2 turnovers," someone else wrote. "She make y'all eat your words every time." "TRIPLE DOUBLE BARBIE, POINT FORWARD, MEBOUND, MEASSIST, MEPOINTS," a fourth user commented, playfully referencing Reese's viral TikTok where she discussed her plans to trademark the term "mebounds" after her critics coined the phrase to discredit her impressive rebounding abilities. Angel Reese Reacts To Viral 'Mebounds' Term ... 'Y'all Ate That Up' The NCAA champion recently told her nearly six million followers that she didn't mind when her critics troll her online. Advertisement "Whoever came up with the 'mebounds' thing, y'all ate that up," Reese said in an online video. "Because mebounds, crebounds, keybounds, tebounds... anything that comes off the board, it's mine." The Maryland native, who's one of the most visible players in the league with major brand deals with Reebok, Reese's, Cash App, Playmaker Sports, and McDonald's, added, "And a brand ... that's six figures right there." "Whoever came up with that, the trolling, I love when y'all do it, because the ideas be good," she said, adding, "when y'all came up with mebounds — cause, statistically, all the rebounds I get aren't always just mine. They're the defenses, too, or somebody else's on my team — but when y'all came up with mebounds, y'all [ate]." She finished the video saying she and her agent were "gonna work with that." Reese's Sophomore Season Has Been Record-Setting Despite Slow Start In addition to earning her first triple-double, Reese has been gaining steam after a relatively slow start to her sophomore year in the league. Advertisement Recently, Reese became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500+ points and rebounds, earning the honor in 38 regular-season games. She's also currently leading the WNBA in rebounds, averaging 11.8 per game. The Sky General Manager Makes Comments About Reese's Efficiency In an earlier interview, Jeff Pagliocca, the Chicago Sky general manager, opened up about the "disappointing" start to his team's season. 'We had pretty big, significant expectations for this season. That's why I made the moves I made," he said. He then turned his focus to Reese, who has taken on a new role this year playing further from the basket and stressed that her efficiency on the court is key to their team's success. Advertisement 'That's something that has yet to come together, but it's a necessity for us to win,' Pagliocca said. 'She's had some great games, and she's had some games like everybody else that haven't been her best. But she's our best chance at versatility on this roster. We need more production out of her, but we need her to help us in other ways, too." With Reese's latest triple-double, showcasing her ability to score, rebound, and facilitate, it appears she's providing the exact "production" and versatility that Pagliocca was seeking. Perhaps her game is coming together right on schedule.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Veteran Blasts Reporter For Personal Question About Angel Reese: 'Her Crown Is Heavy'
Ariel Atkins, an eight-year WNBA veteran, pointedly defended her teammate Angel Reese during a press conference after a reporter asked the latter a personal question. In her defense of Angel Reese, Atkins also praised the 23-year-old for her handling of the immense public scrutiny. Angel Reese's Chicago Sky Teammate Slammed A Reporter During A Press Conference For Asking A Personal Question On June 10, the Chicago Sky suffered another embarrassing loss to the New York Liberty, falling 85-66 and dropping to 2-6 on the year. Advertisement As reported by The Blast, despite the Sky's overall team performance, Reese had her most efficient night of the season, shooting 61 percent from the field, scoring 17 points, and grabbing 11 rebounds. The 6'3" power forward also set another record in the WNBA, becoming the fastest player to reach 30 double-doubles in just 42 career games. Reese's performance and recent accomplishments weren't enough to keep the conversation strictly on basketball, however, considering a reporter asked the 23-year-old how she copes with the overwhelming amount of online hate she receives, from troll accounts to media personalities, including Dave Portnoy. 'Her Crown Is Heavy,' Angel Reese's Teammate Shares Strong Words About The WNBA Star Instagram | Angel Reese After answering the reporter's question, Atkins, an Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA champion, also chimed in to defend Reese in front of the media. Advertisement "I'm sorry, can I? Can I say something?" Atkins said. "This is a 23-year-old kid. And the amount of crap that she gets on a day to day, she still shows up. So whatever questions y'all got, about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense, it's irrelevant." Atkins acknowledged that the Sky, who've suffered several 20-plus point losses this season alone, are experiencing some challenges as a team right now. However, she doesn't believe that's a strong enough case for Reese to be inundated with hateful comments from users online. "This is a 23-year-old kid who handles herself with grace... She knows who she is, and we ain't gonna break her down for that. So whatever other questions y'all got, I'm hoping it's just about basketball, maybe a box score question. But the kid's crown is heavy, like respect that," Atkins said. Reese Met With Criticism After Winning BET's Sportswoman Of The Year Award UNRIVALED Atkins' defense of Reese came just hours after the NCAA champion won her third consecutive Sportswoman of the Year Award at the BET Awards. Advertisement Reese, who recently became an Unrivaled champion and won the league's first-ever Defensive Player of the Year title, was nominated against other elite athletes, including A'ja Wilson, Simone Biles, Dawn Staley, and heavyweight boxer Claressa Shields. Shields opened up about her frustration over not winning the award in a series of posts online, writing, "Still don't know how I didn't win the Sportswoman of the Year for the [BET Awards]. But [congrats] to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees. I just thought accolades mattered." After receiving pushback, the two-time Olympic Gold Medalist insisted that she wasn't implying Reese wasn't worthy of the award. "I'm saying I thought the person with 'THE MOST' accolades [and] accomplishments would win the Award. I'm team Angel Reese!" she added. "I have mad respect for her and all the other female athletes that excel in their sport," Shields continued. "As for my earlier comments, I am allowed to express my feelings. I was shocked I didn't win. ... It's ok to be a competitor." Angel Reese Thanks Her Team For Having Her Back UNRIVALED During the same post-game conference where Atkins spoke up, Reese also shared her feelings on winning another Sportswoman of the Year Award, describing the moment as "great." Advertisement Despite the chaos surrounding her win, Reese said she's only focused on improving at her job. "I just focus on basketball. I come into work every day and work. I don't complain, I don't care about anything else. I have bad days; I haven't been playing well at all." Reese Also Takes 'Accountability' For Her Recent Performance Reese didn't end there, though. She even addressed her current performance and said she takes "accountability" for not meeting the mark. "I come in every day and try and be better than the last. I know my teammates trust me; I know they have my back," she said. "Everything else is everything else," she added. "I'm just here to come to work every day... and be able to enjoy my job."
