TST Exclusive: Conversation with Sparks guard Ariel Atkins
LA Sparks guard Ariel Atkins (7) celebrates a Cameron Brink (22) block at a WNBA basketball game against Team Nigeria,Saturday April 25th, 2026 in San Diego, California. SAN DIEGO – The Sparks might have found their ideal three-and-D. While it was tough to trade a fan favorite in Rickea Jackson, the Sparks landed Ariel Atkins , who was known for being a sniper from the outside and playing tough perimeter defense.
Atkins does her job and does it very well. And she moves in silence, on the way garnering accolades like making the WNBA all-defensive team five times (once as a first-teamer), all-rookie team in 2018, getting all-star berths in 2021 and 2022, and winning a WNBA championship in 2019. She was also part of the Olympic team that won gold in Tokyo in 2021 and the FIBA team that won the World Cup in 2022.
The Sporting Tribune stopped by training camp ahead of the Sparks’ preseason game against Nigeria to talk to the unshakable Atkins. THE SPORTING TRIBUNE: You are an all-world defender, all-world shooter. With all that said, what else are you bringing to the Sparks that might have gone under the radar?
ARIEL ATKINS: Specifically energy, I think is a big thing. We talked about building a culture that people want to be a part of. And I think that's something that we've done since day one.
Creating a family atmosphere but also holding people accountable in the same sense. TST: Take me through the process of getting here. I know you already mentioned you wanted to be in a women-led organization.
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