‘I have to be real with myself, have to give myself grace every day’ — Andscape

During her second season in the WNBA, Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson will share insight into her life on and off the court in a monthly video diary on Andscape.

Jackson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, finished her rookie season as the Sparks’ second-leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds. She also earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors.

Despite her individual success, the Sparks finished the season with a league-worst 8-32 record. In the offseason, the team hired a new head coach, Lynne Roberts, and added two-time WNBA champions Kelsey Plum and Mercedes Russell to the roster, in addition to 2025 draft picks Sarah Ashlee Barker and Sania Feagin.

For Jackson, transitioning from Knoxville, Tennessee, where she attended college, to Los Angeles has been seamless. Though she is naturally introverted, living in Los Angeles has encouraged Jackson to showcase more of her personality. Since arriving, she has gained new fans through her TikTok videos and worked with stylists to create memorable tunnel ’fits in advance of games. 

“I feel like my style speaks for itself,” Jackson said. “A lot of people love my style, so I’m just continuing to do that. I personally feel like I’m best dressed. So if you agree, you agree, and if you don’t, that’s on you.

“My style is super cutesy, girly. I want to branch out a little bit more. I barely wear pants, but I want to, so that’s a start. I’m a skirt girly, a dress girly. But I feel like [my style] is sexy, fierce, confident, fitted.”

She spent the offseason in Miami competing in Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 professional women’s league co-founded by WNBA players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Jackson used her time there to gain more confidence in her 3-point shooting and individual defense. 

In the Sparks’ season opener on May 16 against the Golden State Valkyries, Jackson scored 13 points and collected five rebounds in the 84-67 victory. 

During Los Angeles’ second game of the season, against the Minnesota Lynx, Jackson’s face collided with Minnesota forward Alanna Smith’s shoulder. The collision left Jackson with a swollen face and blackened eye and led to her being placed in the league’s concussion protocol. She missed the Sparks’ next three games, then returned from concussion protocol on May 27 against the Atlanta Dream, logging zero points, one rebound and three fouls in Los Angeles’ 88-82 loss.

Following her initial return, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts announced Jackson would be taking some personal time away from the team. She will return for the Sparks’ game against the Dallas Wings on Friday.

“It’s tough, especially when you want to be the best and you feel like your hard work isn’t paying off. I feel like anyone would feel some type of way,” Jackson said. “Like, dang, like, I come in, I work my tail off, and I try to be intentional. We’re human, [and] we all want it to be perfect right away. I feel like that’s where I have to be real with myself [and] have to give myself grace each and every day.

“I’m a competitor, like, I want to win. That’s all I’m here for. I want to contribute to wins. … Nothing is going to be given to me. I have to go take it.”

In Part 1 of her video diary, Jackson talks about growing up on the east side of Detroit, how her brother motivated her to play basketball, becoming a lottery pick in the WNBA, dealing with her first concussion, her expectations for her second season and much more.