# Rickea Jackson

Rickea Velece Jackson (born March 16, 2001) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at Tennessee and Mississippi State.

## Early life

Jackson played basketball for Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Detroit, Michigan. She led her team to three consecutive Class C state titles. As a senior, Jackson averaged 22 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, earning Michigan Miss Basketball honors and being selected to the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic. She was named Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year for a second time. Jackson left as the program's all-time leading scorer, with 1,771 points. Mick McCabe of the Detroit Free Press considered her the greatest girls high school player in state history. Rated a five-star recruit and the fifth-best player in her class by ESPN, she committed to play college basketball for Mississippi State over offers from South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Rutgers, Ohio State and Louisville.

## College career

On February 20, 2020, Jackson scored a freshman season-high 34 points for Mississippi State in a 92–85 win against Auburn in overtime. As a freshman, she averaged 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) and All-Freshman honors. Jackson won the Gillom Trophy as the top women's college player in Mississippi. In her sophomore season, she averaged 14.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. On December 1, 2021, Jackson scored a career-high 40 points in a 102–55 win over McNeese State.
In January 2022, she entered the transfer portal, averaging an SEC-best 20.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in her junior season. Jackson announced on March 22, 2022, that she would transfer to Tennessee. On March 3, 2023, she scored a senior season-high 34 points in an 80–71 win over Kentucky at the SEC tournament, setting the tournament single-game scoring record. As a senior, Jackson averaged 19.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game and was named first-team All-SEC. Despite being a projected first-round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, she returned to Tennessee for a fifth season of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and repeated as a first-team All-SEC selection.

## Professional career
### WNBA
#### Los Angeles Sparks (2024–present)

On April 15, 2024, Jackson was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks (via the Seattle Storm) as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. On May 15, in an 81–92 loss to the Atlanta Dream, Jackson made her WNBA debut, scoring 7 points in 18 minutes off the bench. On May 28, in an 88–82 win over the Indiana Fever, Jackson made her first start, scoring 12 points in 23 minutes. She remained a starter for the rest of the season and her role gradually increased. On August 25, in a 110–113 loss to the Dallas Wings, Jackson recorded 25 points, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 6 made three-pointers — all career highs. On September 17, in an 81–85 loss to the Phoenix Mercury, Jackson was involved in a confrontation with Mercury player Brittney Griner, leading to both players being ejected. In her rookie season, Jackson played in all 40 regular-season games, starting 35, and averaged 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists. She was also named to the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Despite Jackson's contributions, the Sparks, ravaged by injuries, won only 8 games all season and finished 12th in the league.

### Unrivaled

On September 3, 2024, it was announced that Jackson would appear and play in the inaugural season of Unrivaled, a new women's 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.

## National team career

Jackson represented the United States alongside her Mississippi State teammates at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Italy. She led the tournament with 22.2 points per game and won a silver medal. Jackson won a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Mexico, where she averaged a team-high 14.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, earning all-tournament honors.
In 3x3 basketball, Jackson played at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup in Mongolia, where she helped her team win the gold medal and was named to the all-tournament team.

## Career statistics
### WNBA

Stats current through end of 2024 season
WNBA regular season statistics :
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
| 2024 | Los Angeles | 40 | 35 | 28.8 | .456 | .347 | .807 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 13.4 |
| Career | 1 year, 1 team | 40 | 35 | 28.8 | .456 | .347 | .807 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 13.4 |

### College

NCAA statistics :
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PPG |
| 2019–20 | Mississippi State | 33 | 27 | 30.1 | 48.3 | 41.9 | 72.4 | 5.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 15.1 |
| 2020–21 | Mississippi State | 19 | 16 | 31.6 | 42.0 | 29.5 | 54.7 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 14.9 |
| 2021–22 | Mississippi State | 15 | 15 | 34.9 | 41.0 | 24.3 | 73.0 | 6.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 20.3 |
| 2022–23 | Tennessee | 35 | 24 | 28.3 | 54.8 | 31.4 | 79.2 | 6.1 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 19.2 |
| 2023–24 | Tennessee | 25 | 24 | 31.5 | 48.5 | 33.8 | 78.0 | 8.2 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 20.2 |
| Career | Career | 127 | 106 | 30.7 | 47.9 | 30.9 | 74.2 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 17.8 |

## Personal life

Rickea and fellow WNBA player, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton share a godmother, Debra Walker, who played with Laney-Hamilton's mother Yolanda on the historic Cheyney State Lady Wolves basketball team.
In July 2024, Jackson became the first WNBA player to sign a shoe deal with Skechers.