Lady Vols basketball sends another player to the WNBA with Rickea Jackson being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 4 overall.
Rickea Jackson, a Lady Vols basketball player, was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks with the fourth overall pick, sending another player to the WNBA. The Detroit, Michigan native will get the chance to relocate to the west to start her career as a professional basketball player.
The Los Angeles Sparks selected Stanford forward Cameron Brink at No. 2, while the Chicago Sky selected South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso. This allowed the Sparks to select another Lady Vol. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was a lock to go to the Indiana Fever with the first overall pick.
The Sparks came into this draft emphasizing adding size to their roster, and they did that by adding Brink and Jackson as rookies. Jackson isn’t a massive post player. She only stands at 6’2″, so she brings toughness, versatility, and tenacity to Los Angeles with her play.
Jackson averaged 20.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in her senior season. She did it all for the Lady Vols and was a leader on the offensive and defensive ends of the court. She also averaged 20 points in her last three seasons on Rocky Top.
Brink is a versatile player, and Jackson can add another big, versatile body to the lineup to help the Sparks do a great work on the court from both sides. The addition of Brink and Jackson might also aid the Sparks in making their first-ever trip back to the WNBA playoffs in four years.
She is a strong-bodied, generational athlete who is prepared to contribute right away to the Sparks’ WNBA campaign. Now that Brink and Jackson are coupled with Layshia Clarendon, Jordan Canada, and Neka Ogwumike, the Sparks might be an entertaining team to watch.
With her new colleagues, Jackson will have a few weeks to get ready for the WNBA season. The Sparks take on the Atlanta Dream in the opening game of the regular season on Wednesday, May 15, following their preseason on Sunday, May 5.
