Los Angeles Sparks GM Raegan Pebley addressed fans’ concerns, clarifying her intention with the Ariel Atkins-Rickea Jackson trade. Fans have criticized the move, citing Jackson’s upside and Atkins’ age.
During a media session on Sunday, Pebley was asked about her thought process for the move. She answered, citing the team’s intention to compete for a championship.
“We care about our fans, we care about the players,” Pebley said. “We recognize this is hard on fans. We had a very clear focus on what we’re out to do in building this roster. The end goal is that we’re going to win a championship. We had to really work to just find where those fits were for us.”
While the Sparks have described the trade as a “win now” move, they continue to face criticism, with many citing the team’s ninth-place finish in 2025. WNBA analyst Rachel DeMita also questioned the team’s strategy.
“The Sparks haven’t been great over the last two seasons,” DeMita said. “So to go from a team that didn’t make the playoffs, into a team that is going for a contender’s category … I just don’t know.”
LA Sparks GM Raegan Pebley expresses excitement over Ariel Atkins after Rickea Jackson trade
Continuing her conversation on Sunday, Pebley expressed excitement over Atkins’ addition to the roster, citing the two-time All-Star’s impact on both ends of the floor.
“We’re excited about Ariel, as much as Rickea is a loss, we’re really excited about Ariel Atkins and what she brings to our team on both ends of the floor,” she said.
Ariel Atkins has made five All-Defensive teams in her career, last earning a first-team selection in 2022. She played 34 games for the Chicago Sky in 2025, averaging 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists, shooting 44.4%, including 36.1% from 3-point range.
Atkins was a valuable contributor for the Washington Mystics in 2019, helping the team to the WNBA championship. Her championship experience should prove invaluable to her new team with its title aspirations.
She is expected to start alongside two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum, whom the Sparks acquired via trade ahead of the 2025 season. Plum played 43 games, recording 19.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Read More: WNBA Analyst Baffled As LA Takes Big Risk With Questionable Free-Agent Move To Replace Angel Reese
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