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Ariel Atkins acquires valuable experience in Serbia with Team USA

By Scott Mammoser

BELGRADE, SERBIA - FEBRUARY 08: Ariel Atkins (R) of USA in action against Anabela Cossa (L) of Mozambique during the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 Group A match between Mozambique and USA at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on February 8, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
BELGRADE, SERBIA - FEBRUARY 08: Ariel Atkins (R) of USA in action against Anabela Cossa (L) of Mozambique during the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 Group A match between Mozambique and USA at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on February 8, 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images) /
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Ariel Atkins has had an exciting few months, first winning a WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics and now wrapping up her experience with the U.S. women’s basketball team at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.

The U.S. handled its first two games of the competition against Serbia, 88-69, and Mozambique, 124-49, before a nail-biting win over Nigeria, 76-71. Atkins was added to the roster for the competition, which the Americans did not need to win, having already qualified from their 2018 World Cup victory, knowing she wouldn’t be playing in Tokyo, but possibly in future tournaments.

“It was really amazing,” Atkins told High Post Hoops by phone from Belgrade. “I got to learn from a lot of the players who I have been looking up to for a long time. I feel like being an Olympian and being on Team USA are the top tier and the highest level possible.”

Atkins logged about an average of 18 minutes per game and scored eight points in the Mozambique win. In Sunday’s finale, the U.S. needed to erase a 57-50 deficit going into the fourth quarter to overcome the back-to-back African champions.

“It gave us an edge, more of a physical challenge,” Atkins said of the close game with Nigeria. “They were very active on defense. They made us want to fight hard.”

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The Nigerians, in conclusion, qualified for their first Olympics since Athens 2004. Host Japan, China, Korea, Australia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Spain, France, Serbia, and Belgium will be the other teams tipping off in Tokyo this July.

“I bring some type of height,” Atkins said of her value to the team during the event. “I am super active on the floor, getting offensive rebounds and help side defense. I lock down on players with high energy.”

Being around a group of perennial All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, Atkins also observed how the veterans on the team react towards one another.

“I would say that communication is key,” she listed as the most valuable point she learned in Belgrade. “One of the things I saw is how much we have to talk to each other on and off the court. It’s interesting to see how we communicate with each other.”

The 23-year-old Atkins, who was born in the middle of the 1996 Atlanta Games, said that joining the team for perhaps the 2022 World Cup or 2024 Olympics in Paris are major goals for her at this point in her career.

“I played on the junior National team, Under-16 and Under-23 FIBA competitions,” Atkins added. “They meant a lot. They’re even more fun because you have to try out for the team, and it’s exciting to end up on the roster.”

Fighting for a roster spot is likely something Atkins didn’t have to do as a star player at the University of Texas before the Mystics grabbed her at No. 7 overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft.

“We’re going to keep going and try to figure out how to get better and elevate,” she said of the Mystics. “Hopefully, this season ends up with another championship.”

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