LOS ANGELES — The Chicago Sky traded guard Ariel Atkins to the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday in a sign-and-trade deal that sent 2024 No. 4 overall pick Rickea Jackson to Chicago. Atkins is signing a multiyear deal with the Sparks as part of the transaction.

Atkins had been designated as a core player by the Sky before the trade. A starter on the Washington Mystics' 2019 WNBA championship team, Atkins has been selected to the WNBA All-Defensive team five times and holds a career three-point shooting percentage of 36.2%. In the most recent season, she averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 44.4% from the field.

Jackson, a 6-foot-2 forward, was still on her rookie contract at the time of the trade. She was named to the All-Rookie team following the 2024 season and, in the 2025 season, averaged 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 34.8% from three-point range.

The deal is the latest in a series of roster moves for the Sparks. Los Angeles signed 10-time WNBA All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and re-signed four-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum. The team also re-signed three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby and added 2019 WNBA All-Star Erica Wheeler. Cameron Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, is also on the roster.

The Sky have also been active in reshaping their roster during the offseason. Chicago traded Angel Reese in exchange for 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and sent a 2028 first-round pick to the Washington Mystics for guard Jacy Sheldon. The team signed seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins and 2021 WNBA champion Azura Stevens in free agency, and re-signed Elizabeth Williams and Rachel Banham.