Rickea Jackson

Rickea Jackson was overshadowed by fellow rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese but made a strong impact for the Sparks. At the beginning of the season, she was coming off the bench but once Cameron Brink went down due to injury, she was interested in the starting lineup. Jackson is a lanky wing with strong scoring instincts who can create mismatches all over the floor, taking over a game in spurts and finishing at the rim with either hand. The Tennessee product finished her rookie campaign averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting a solid 34.7 percent from 3. She can score from all three levels in the halfcourt and runs the lanes on the break with long strides.

Jackson’s rookie year will be one to remember because of how much ground she covered after getting a chance to start. Caitlin Clark took the Rookie of the Year’s honors (rightfully so) and Angel Reese finished second after experiencing a season-ending injury. But Jackson asserted herself early and often for the struggling Sparks and was one of the few bright spots. She was able to call her own number when the plays broke down and adjust when needed. She’s clearly headed for WNBA stardom and as the Sparks add talent she could be the offensive centerpiece of a future contender.

Everyone should pay attention to the Jackson in 2025 because she will only get better with time. The franchise will hire a coach that focuses on the development of younger players. She will most likely be in the starting lineup from the beginning of the season, unlike this year when she got off to a slow start adjusting to coming off the bench. She will be paired in the backcourt with Zia Cooke or another guard who can match her speed. Lexie Brown and Brink should return to the team adding talent and with Dearica Hamby also coming off a breakout season this is clearly a team on the rise.