Ariel Atkins believes becoming a high-volume shooter has helped her move on from a slow start to the year, having scored a season-high 26 points for the Chicago Sky on Saturday. 

Chicago beat the short-handed Dallas Wings 94-83, just two days on from a 97-92 success over the same opponents, to improve to 2-4 for the campaign.

Atkins scored 14 of her points in the first half, also adding three assists, four rebounds and making eight of 14 field-goal attempts and four of eight attempted 3-pointers in the game.

Atkins failed to hit double figures for points in any of Chicago's first three games this season, but she has since put up 21, 17 and 26 in her last three outings.

She did not attempt more than eight shots from the field in any of the Sky's first three games but has since attempted 14 or more in three successive outings.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the seventh overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft put her upturn down to a concerted attempt to let fly more often.

"Yeah, I do think it's intentional, but I honestly think we're getting more chemistry as a team," she said.

we’re still here #Skytown pic.twitter.com/h8ZDtQQlOE

— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) June 1, 2025

"As you see us get more comfortable with each other, we're starting to realise where all of our shots are coming from, we can individually hone in on our strengths.

"I honestly think our team chemistry is really getting there, we're starting to figure out how well we can play together."

The Sky are back in action against the Indiana Fever next Saturday, while Dallas – who were without this year's number one draft pick Paige Bueckers on Saturday after she was placed in the league's concussion protocol – go to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday.