Ariel Atkins set to return to Sparks’ lineup after concussion protocol stint

The Los Angeles Sparks are looking to get back in the win column as they embark on a four-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. And it appears as if the Sparks will have reinforcements on the injury front in the form of starting shooting guard Ariel Atkins who had been placed into league concussion protocol.

Ariel Atkins’ name did not appear on the Sparks’ injury report ahead of their game against the Mercury, meaning that she’s cleared the necessary requirements to clear concussion protocol. Atkins has missed the last two games for the Sparks, and home and home series against the Toronto Tempo in which they went 1-1.

She initially suffered a facial injury when she was hit by an elbow from Monique Billings during the second half of the Sparks’ loss to the Indiana Fever on May 13. Atkins immediately exited the game and headed straight for the locker room.

In the two games that Atkins played in this season, she averaged 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals with splits of 18.8 percent shooting from the field and 100 percent shooting from the free-throw line in just about 24 minutes of play. She was 0-of-7 from 3-point range.

But despite her slow offensive start to the season, Atkins has been one of the Sparks’ best defensive players. She’s second on the team in defensive rating and leads the team in steals. During the Sparks’ opening night loss to the Las Vegas Aces on May 10, some of the team’s best offensive possessions came off Atkins’ defensive activity.

A two-time All-Star and WNBA champion with the 2019 Washington Mystics, Atkins’ addition did not come without major scrutiny. The Sparks traded rising young forward Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky in a straight up swap for Atkins. Jackson had been the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and was seemingly a potential building block for the future.

But with the free agent signings of Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler alongside Atkins, the Sparks signaled a major shift in direction opting for a win-now mode rather than long-term development. But only time will tell if the Sparks’ were right in their assessment.

Following the team’s next game against the Mercury, they will travel to face the Aces, Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun before finally returning home on June 2.

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