WNBA Champ, Olympic Gold Medalist Ariel Atkins Set to Make AU Pro Basketball Debut
Ariel Atkins, a WNBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and two-time All-Star, is set to bring her defensive grit and championship pedigree to Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball this winter in Nashville.
Atkins has been a model of consistency since entering the WNBA in 2018. Selected seventh overall by the Washington Mystics, she quickly became one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders, making history as the first player to earn All-Defensive honors in each of her first five seasons. The 5-foot-10 guard owns a 2019 WNBA Championship ring, two All-Star appearances (2021, 2022), and an Olympic gold medal from the 2020 Tokyo Games.
In 2025, Atkins moved to the Chicago Sky after seven seasons with the Washington Mystics, and continued to deliver on both ends of the floor, averaging 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Her versatility as a scorer and playmaker pairs with her reputation as one of the toughest matchups on defense, and makes her a vital addition to the AU roster.
Before her professional career, Atkins starred at the University of Texas, where she etched her name into the program record book. She scored 1,497 career points, shot 42% from three-point range as a senior, and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team twice. She earned AP Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2018 and helped lead the Longhorns to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2016.
From her decorated NCAA career to her dominance on the international and professional stage, Atkins has built a resume defined by relentless defense. Now, she’ll put those defensive talents on display as she competes for the AU Pro Basketball Season 5 championship crown.
AU Pro Basketball returns to Nashville, Tennessee, with elite talent and electrifying energy, for its fifth championship season on February 4, 2026, at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Group and season ticket deposits for the upcoming season are available now.
Siera Jones is the digital media reporter at Athletes Unlimited. You can follow her on Instagram and X @sieraajones.
