It’s a busy week in the WNBA, with more than 80% of the league’s players out of contract entering free agency.
A three-day window for free-agent negotiations opened Wednesday, and any signings or trades can become official Saturday. The Chicago Sky got an early start on their roster makeover by trading All-Star forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday for a pair of future first-round picks.
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Here’s the latest Sky news in free agency.
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Thursday: Sky in talks to trade Ariel Atkins for Rickea Jackson
The Sky could take a major swing on the trade market to kick off free agency this week.
According to a report by Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports, the Sky are engaged in conversations with the Los Angeles Sparks about possibly trading guard Ariel Atkins for forward Rickea Jackson. If the sides agree to a deal, it could be finalized Saturday on the first day of the free-agent signing period.
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Jackson, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, is a versatile forward who could balance out the frontcourt after the Sky traded forward Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday. The 6-foot-2 Jackson is a strong 3-point shooter who can score at all three levels.
The Sky extended Atkins a core qualifying offer Monday, a mechanism that allowed them to retain exclusive negotiating rights. Atkins could accept the core offer of a one-year, $1.4 million supermax contract, but she and the Sky also have the option to negotiate a longer-term contract at a lower salary — or a trade to another team.
Using the core mechanism to trade Atkins would avoid a worst-case scenario for the Sky: allowing Atkins to walk in free agency after trading the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft to acquire her from the Washington Mystics. That deal represents the greatest gamble Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca has made in his two-year tenure.
The Sky acquired Atkins for one season without any future guarantees, with the expectation she could improve the backcourt while helping amend veteran opinion of the Sky as a landing place for free agents. The Mystics, meanwhile, used the No. 3 pick to select Notre Dame guard Sonia Citron, who was named an All-Star as a rookie.
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Atkins averaged 13.1 points last season, her lowest production since 2019, though she did post a career-high 3.6 assists per game while shouldering greater playmaking responsibilities due to the absence of injured point guard Courtney Vandersloot. Atkins also was diminished during the latter part of the season by a calf strain, which sidelined her for several weeks.
If the Sky complete this trade, they could have at least six players on rookie contracts this season — Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld, Ajša Sivka and their 2026 first-round pick — which would provide extensive flexibility under the salary cap.
