Sparks Rickea Jackson continues a smooth | College News

Rickea Jackson’s smooth demeanor has the type of magnetism the WNBA covets in a future star off the court — and her natural confidence delivers precisely what’s needed when chasing wins.

At Sparks media day, Jackson stepped to the rostrum contemporary off a high-paced apply in entrance of spectators, radiating easy composure. A silver Cuban hyperlink chain draped her neck, fuzzy slippers hugged her toes, her make-up exactly utilized and nary a hair out of place — the embodiment of smooth.

Jackson fielded questions with attraction, holding court and drawing laughs from reporters as her character was on full show. Her solutions had been measured and considerate, delivered with the poise of a seasoned veteran — yet she’s only 24, coming into her second season.

“She’s a smooth person, smooth athlete, smooth basketball player,” head coach Lynne Roberts stated of her rising star. “She makes hard things look really easy … she makes things look effortless, and I know they’re not.”

One yr eliminated from her rookie season, Jackson has emerged as one of the Sparks’ younger cornerstones heading into the season opener Friday at Golden State — with the accolades to match. She completed third among rookies in scoring with 13.4 factors per sport, trailing only Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese — and doing so in fewer minutes — incomes a spot on the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team.

Jackson was thrust into the beginning lineup by the season’s sixth sport and never seemed back. When fellow first-round choose Cameron Brink went down because of an damage, Jackson grew to become a go-to option on a struggling group, ending as the second-leading scorer. Her presence and scoring stood out — a degree of maturity and manufacturing that belied her age.

Yet it was Jackson’s efficiency in the inaugural season of Unrivaled — the ladies’s skilled three-on-three basketball league — that turned heads around the WNBA. Averaging 13.6 factors and 3.7 rebounds over 14 video games for the Mist Basketball Club against fellow WNBA gamers, she sparked widespread anticipation of a breakout marketing campaign, with many keen to crown the league’s next massive star.

“It’s a good process,” Roberts stated of Jackson’s time in Unrivaled. “She’s playing with other pros in this league, where you’re just going to naturally absorb and learn from that. That was probably huge for her mentality and work ethic.”

Azurá Stevens has grown close to Jackson, often showing in her TikTok videos, dancing and slicing up for an viewers of half a million followers. Jackson has change into like a little sister to her, and Stevens has had a front-row seat to her growth, from their bond during Jackson’s rookie season to her spectacular offseason heading into yr two.

“Just seeing what she was able to do last year, and just the growth that I’ve seen at Unrivaled and even just so far this second year has been really cool,” Stevens stated.

That growth carried over into the preseason highway win against the Golden State Valkyries, when Jackson led the Sparks with 13 factors in 24 minutes. She flashed a wider scoring selection — drilling back-to-back three-pointers (a shot she struggled with final season at 34% but sharpened during Unrivaled), attacking the basket aggressively for layups and sinking a smooth midrange jumper.

“It’s just been focusing on sharpening every tool in my toolbox,” Jackson stated. “The three, handles, defensive end — those are the things that I feel are on the top of my list, and just staying confident.”

Rickea Jackson drives between two defenders while taking part in for the mist the three-on-three Unrivaled league.

(Megan Briggs / Getty Images)

Roberts, who says the dynamic between her and Jackson has grown considerably over the few short months they’ve spent collectively, has high reward for the ahead. She sees who Jackson desires to change into and believes she has the potential to be a perennial All-Star — if she does the work needed to earn it.

“She’s good,” Roberts stated of her effort against Golden State. “I don’t even know if she broke a sweat. She just makes things look easy.”

In any different draft class, Jackson would’ve been the point of interest of national media — the surefire inheritor obvious to superstardom. But she was in one of the deepest draft lessons in latest WNBA historical past — presumably ever — alongside Clark, Reese and Brink, all of whom have dominated national consideration.

Some of that highlight is now starting to shine on Jackson, with more anticipated to observe.

“It’s coming,” Roberts stated. “Because of who she is, she’s just a chill human. She doesn’t demand that attention. She’s not doing things to get that attention.”

Sparks ahead Rickea Jackson appears to go the ball while driving against Valkyries guard Veronica Burton during a preseason sport in San Francisco.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Brink believes the “sky’s the restrict for ‘Kea” as far as her potential. Going through the same transition from rookie to young veteran, Brink understands what Jackson experienced last year and what lies ahead for her.

“She’s a actually proficient participant,” Brink stated. “She made a lot of huge steps. … She’s just going to continue to grow, and I’m excited to get back on the court with her.”

This season will take a look at Jackson under an even brighter highlight. . Others are touting her as the WNBA’s next breakout star. With a more outlined function comes heightened expectations on a group constructed to win now.

Jackson has her coach’s full confidence.

“Pressure is a privilege,” Roberts stated. “That means you’re doing something right. … Embrace it on one level and ignore it on another… She’s going to have to learn how to manage it, because she is going to get more and more attention as her game evolves.”