Rickea Jackson is a professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She honed her skills in college basketball at both the University of Tennessee and Mississippi State University.
Born on March 16, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, Rickea Velece Jackson began her basketball journey at a young age, quickly demonstrating exceptional talent and ability.
During her high school career at Detroit Edison Public School Academy, she led her team to secure three consecutive Class C state championships. In her senior year, she averaged 22 ppg and 6.5 rpg, earning the title of Michigan Miss Basketball and receiving invitations to prestigious events such as the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Additionally, she was named the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year for the second time. By the end of her high school tenure, she had become the program’s all-time leading scorer, amassing a total of 1,771 points. Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press regarded her as the finest girls’ high school player in Michigan’s history. Rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the fifth-best player in her class by ESPN, she chose to play college basketball at Mississippi State, turning down offers from several prominent programs, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Rutgers, Ohio State, and Louisville.
On February 20, 2020, Rickea Jackson achieved a personal best of 34 points during her freshman season while playing for Mississippi State, contributing to a 92–85 overtime victory against Auburn. Throughout her freshman year, she maintained an average of 15.1 ppg and 5.1 rpg, which earned her second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and All-Freshman accolades. Additionally, Rickea Jackson was awarded the Gillom Trophy, recognizing her as the top women’s college basketball player in Mississippi. In her sophomore year, she recorded averages of 14.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg. Notably, on December 1, 2021, she set a career-high by scoring 40 points in a decisive 102–55 win over McNeese State.
In January 2022, Rickea Jackson entered the transfer portal, having averaged an impressive 20.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg during her junior season, the highest in the SEC. On March 22, 2022, she announced her decision to transfer to Tennessee. On March 3, 2023, she scored a senior season-high of 34 points in an 80–71 victory against Kentucky during the SEC tournament, establishing a new single-game scoring record for the tournament. As a senior, Jackson averaged 19.2 ppg and 6.1 rpg, earning first-team All-SEC honors. Although she was projected to be a first-round selection in the 2023 WNBA draft, she opted to return to Tennessee for a fifth season of eligibility, which was granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this season, she averaged 20.2 ppg and 8.2 rpg, once again being named a first-team All-SEC selection.
On April 15, 2024, Rickea Jackson was chosen by the Los Angeles Sparks, through the Seattle Storm, as the fourth overall selection in the 2024 WNBA draft. She made her WNBA debut on May 15 during a game against the Atlanta Dream, where the Sparks lost 81–92, scoring 7 points in 18 minutes as a substitute. On May 28, she earned her first starting position in a victory over the Indiana Fever, contributing 12 points in 23 minutes. Rickea Jackson continued to start for the remainder of the season, with her responsibilities increasing over time. On August 25, in a close 110–113 defeat to the Dallas Wings, she achieved career highs with 25 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 6 successful three-pointers. On September 17, during a game against the Phoenix Mercury, she was involved in an altercation with Brittney Griner, resulting in both players being ejected from the match. Throughout her rookie season, Jackson participated in all 40 regular-season games, starting in 35, and averaged 13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and 1.5 apg. She was also honored with a spot on the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Despite her significant contributions, the Sparks struggled with injuries, managing to win only 8 games throughout the season, which placed them 12th in the league standings.
On September 3, 2024, it was officially announced that Jackson would participate in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a newly established women’s 3-on-3 basketball league created by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
Rickea Jackson represented the United States alongside her teammates from Mississippi State at the 2019 Summer Universiade held in Italy. She excelled in the tournament, averaging 22.2 points per game, which led to her team securing a silver medal. Additionally, Rickea Jackson earned a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, where she recorded an impressive average of 14.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg, receiving all-tournament recognition for her performance.
In the realm of 3×3 basketball, Jackson competed in the 2019 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia, contributing to her team’s victory in securing the gold medal and earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
Rickea Jackson photos
