Lady Vols basketball sends another player to the WNBA, with Rickea Jackson being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 4 overall. The native of Detroit, Michigan, will have the opportunity to move out west to begin her professional basketball career.
Iowa's Caitlin Clark was a lock at the No. 1 overall pick to the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks took Stanford forward Cameron Brink at No. 2, and the Chicago Sky went with South Carolina's center Kamilla Cardoso, which opened the door for the Sparks to bring another Lady Vol to Los Angeles.
.@iamthathooper is bringing her talents to LA as the 4th pick in the WNBA Draft! pic.twitter.com/fTe0WdBkj8
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) April 16, 2024
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 better job on both ends of the court. Adding Brink and Jackson could also help the Sparks return to the WNBA playoffs for the first time in four years.
She's a generational player with a strong body who is ready to make an immediate impact in the WNBA with the Sparks. The new-look Sparks could be a fun team to watch, with Brink and Jackson paired with Nneka Ogwumike, Jordin Canada, and Layshia Clarendon.
Jackson will have a few weeks to prepare for the WNBA season with her new teammates. The Sparks begin their preseason on Sunday, May 5, with the regular season beginning on Wednesday, May 15, against the Atlanta Dream.