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Writer's pictureZach Penrice
Jul 152 min read

DMV Star of the Week - Ariel Atkins

Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.” 

 

This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Washington Mystics Guard Ariel Atkins. 


The 2018 first round pick has been the Mystics’ leading scorer in what has been a very tough start to the season. The team is just 6-18 thus far, but Atkins has been thriving despite the team's struggles. 


Through the opening 24 games, Atkins has averaged a team high 15.9 PPG and a team-high 1.6 steals per game, while bringing in nearly 4 RPG and dishing out 3.5 APG. 


This past week, she put together her first and third-best scoring efforts of the entire season up to this point. 


First, in a 89-84 win over Indiana, Atkins poured in 26 points on 10-17 shooting to go along with 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. 


On Sunday, she put up a season-high 36 points on 13-25 shooting, including 6-9 from three, to go along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 35 minutes. 


Despite the heroic effort, the team came up short in a 89-77 loss in which Atkins scored 47% of the team’s points, which is sort of a microcosm of the Mystics season up to this point. 

 

The DMV saw three teams in action this past week, including the Washington Nationals, D.C. United, and Washington Mystics.


Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week: 


  • D.C. United Winger Cristian Dajome scored twice in the teams 2-1 win on the road against Nashville on Saturday night. He had entered the game with just one goal on the year.

 

Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:


  • Washington Nationals (44-53, 4th in NL East)

  • 7/19 vs. Cincinnati

  • 7/20 vs. Cincinnati

  • 7/21 vs. Cincinnati

  • D.C. United (5-8-11, 23 points 12th in Eastern Conference)

  • 7/17 @ Minnesota

  • 7/20 vs. Celtic (Friendly)

  • Washington Spirit (11-1-4 overall, 34 points, 3rd in NWSL) 

  • 8/18 vs. Arsenal (Friendly)

  • Washington Mystics (6-18 overall, 6th in Eastern Conference)

  • 7/16 vs. Phoenix 


*Denotes games I will be covering in-person

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