Every WNBA championship team has multiple players who come up big in postseason moments. As you might expect, the franchise player is going to play a big part in that. But other key starters and reserves must come up big as well
In the Washington Mystics’ 95-86 win over the Connecticut Sun yesterday, Ariel Atkins scored a playoff-high 21 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range.
Atkins didn’t have a strong scoring performance in the WNBA playoffs so far. Before yesterday’s game, she didn’t score in double figures in the Mystics’ semifinals series against the Connecticut Sun.
What’s even more notable about Atkins’ performance was that she only played 23 minutes. Elena Delle Donne was the team’s leading scorer with 22 points but she played 36 minutes. Emma Meesseman only scored 11 points and played 22 minutes off the bench.
The Mystics are dialed down on winning the WNBA Finals with everything they have. Atkins may not have the “brand name” power that Delle Donne, Meesseman or Kristi Toliver have right now. But with more performances like these, she will have her name in the spotlight soon enough!