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Drop Off: Mystics rookies Ariel Atkins, Myisha Hines-Allen shining early

By Ben Dull

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Ariel Atkins #7 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Ariel Atkins #7 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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So, who saw this coming?

The Washington Mystics are 5-1, and they nearly swept a road back-to-back without the services of guard Natasha Cloud and superstar forward Elena Delle Donne. Kristi Toliver has been fantastic, shooting 47.4 percent on six three-point attempts per game.

Toliver alone can’t carry the offense, though. We may see Tayler Hill (ACL) back on the court by the end of June, but head coach and general manager Mike Thibault already has another perimeter player giving his team a big lift offensively.

2018 No. 7 overall pick Ariel Atkins is lighting it up. The 5’11 guard is shooting 43.5 percent on nearly five three-point attempts per game.

The Mystics aren’t relying entirely on three-point shooting to get these wins. That’s where 2018 second round pick Myisha Hines-Allen comes in. The 6’2 forward out of Louisville scored 15 points (7-8 FG) and collected 13 rebounds (seven offensive) in the team’s comeback win over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 27: Ariel Atkins #7 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 27: Ariel Atkins #7 of the Washington Mystics shoots the ball against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Hines-Allen and Atkins injected some life into their team after the Lynx put them in an early hole. Atkins has impressed with her shot-making, and has even been scoring out of the pick and roll.

Washington needed outside shooting in the worst way in last year’s playoffs. Emma Meesseman (sitting out the 2018 season) went cold, and Hill’s absence was really felt as Minnesota shrunk the floor. The Lynx could afford to send extra bodies at Delle Donne when she tried to create for herself.

Atkins will need to continue to prove that she can defend and hit semi-contested shots as this compressed season wears on. But with Delle Donne and Hill back in the lineup, it’s reasonable to expect Atkins to get an even steadier diet of catch-and-shoot attempts.

Atkins’ 2018 highlights through six games:

Hines-Allen is a strong, physical presence. Thibault expected her to be selected at the top of the second round, then took her at 19. Aces head coach and president of basketball operations Bill Laimbeer held the top pick of the second round. He saw her more as a project at small forward. “We decided we were going to take whoever the best player on the board was when we got to our pick. And she was it,” Thibault told Danielle Lerner of the Courier Journal after the draft.

Even without Meesseman in the fold, minutes may be tough to come by. Hines-Allen will need to continue to fire away from midrange with confidence when she’s left open. Adding a reliable three-pointer would be ideal. For now, a respectable 17-footer will make it easy for Thibault to keep her in the rotation.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 27: Washington Mystics forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) keeps an eye on Minnesota Lynx guard Tanisha Wright (30) during a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx, on May 27, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.The Mystics defeated the Lynx 90-77.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 27: Washington Mystics forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) keeps an eye on Minnesota Lynx guard Tanisha Wright (30) during a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Minnesota Lynx, on May 27, 2018, at Capital One Arena, in Washington, D.C.The Mystics defeated the Lynx 90-77.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

One thing that has really wowed with Hines-Allen: She’s eager and willing to finish with her left hand. As with Atkins and her hot start from beyond the arc, we’ll have to wait and see how sustainable that production is.

The Phoenix broadcast team noted Wednesday that Thibault refers to Hines-Allen as his team’s Draymond Green. You can see the parallels — traditionally undersized at times even as a power forward yet capable of logging minutes at center, strong, mobile, a nose for the glass, just good enough to knock down jumpers when left all alone, and underrated as a passer.

“I didn’t know was how good of a passer she is,” Thibault said to the Courier Journal. “Because for Louisville she was a finisher. We’ll let her handle the ball more as she gets more time in the league.”

Hines-Allen’s 2018 highlights through six games:

The Mystics found something in these two rookies. The shooting may fall off a tad. Cloud should be back in the lineup soon. As mentioned, Hill is on the mend. They need to get more out of Monique Currie, who looked more assertive running with the second unit in Phoenix. Sanders and Thomas will need to continue to battle up front, especially having seen Delle Donne and Hawkins play so well together early this season.

We’re often reminded that the leap to the pros is even tougher for WNBA rookies. Some regression is probably coming. The Mystics get two good ones. That much is clear already. Atkins and Hines-Allen are helping them win games now, not even a month into the 2018 WNBA season.

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