Rickea Jackson from Sparks continues a smooth transition to the star

Rickea Jackson’s smooth behavior has the kind of magnetism that the WNBA enthusiasm in a future star rejects the square – and its natural self -confidence provides exactly what is necessary when persecution of victories.

At the Sparks Media Day, Jackson went out on the podium in front of the spectators to radiate effortless serenity. A silver Cuban connecting chain draped her neck, blurry slippers hugged her feet, her make -up was applied carefully and no hair was out of place – the embodiment of smooth.

Jackson asked questions with charm, held court and pulled from reporters laugh when her personality was fully exhibited. Her answers were measured and thoughtful and thoughtful with the balance of an experienced veteran – but she is only 24 years old and entered her second season.

“She is a glatt person, a smooth athlete, a smooth basketball player,” said head coach Lynne Roberts about her aspiring star. “She makes the difficult things look really easy … she makes things look effortless and I know that they are not.”

A year that was removed from her rookie season, Jackson, as one of the young cornerstones of the Sparks on Friday in the Golden State, developed on the way to the start of the season – with the awards. With 13.4 points per game, she took third place among the rookies, which only Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese stayed behind and this in a few minutes deserved a place in the 2024 WNBA all-rookie team.

Jackson came into the starting line -up through the sixth game of the season and never looked back. When Cameron Brink went down in the first round for an injury, Jackson became an option in a fighting team and ended as a second scorer. Her presence and goal stood out – a scale of maturity and production that contradicted their age.

Cameron Brink (22) and Rickea Jackson (2) were moved in by the sparks by the Sparks last summer. While Brink had cut her season by injury, Jackson was selected in the all-rookie team.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Nevertheless, it was Jackson’s appearance in the first season of the incomparable three-against-three basketball league of the women’s, which was about the WNBA. An average of 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14 games for the crap basketball club against WNBA players triggered a widespread anticipation for a breakout campaign, many of which strived to crown the next big star of the league.

“It’s a good process,” said Roberts about Jackson’s time in incomparable time. “She plays with other professionals in this league, where they will only absorb and learn from this naturally. That was probably huge for her mentality and work ethic.”

Azurá Stevens has become near Jackson and often appears in her TikK videos, danced and fell out of half a million followers for an audience. Jackson has become like a little sister for her, and Stevens had a place in the front row for her growth, from her bond while Jackson’s rookie season to her impressive off-season, which passes into the second year.

“Just seeing what she could do last year, and only the growth that I saw with unsurpassed and even this second year was really cool,” said Stevens.

This growth was victory in the previous season against the Valkyries Golden State when Jackson led the sparks with 13 points in 24 minutes. She flashed a wider number of points in a row in a row (a shot with which she had to struggle last season with 34%, but while unrivaled), which the basket aggressively attacked layups and sank a smooth jumper with medium-sized.

“It only focused on sharpening every tool in my toolbox,” said Jackson. “The three, handles, defensive ending – these are the things that I think are at the top of my list and only remain confident.”

Rickea Jackson drives between two defenders while playing the three against three competitors for the fog.

(Megan Briggs / Getty Images)

Roberts, who says that the dynamics between her and Jackson have grown considerably in the few monthly months they spent together, has high praise for the striker. She sees who wants to be Jackson and believes that she has the potential to be a multi-year-old all-star, and she does the work that is necessary to earn her.

“She is good,” said Roberts about her efforts against Golden State. “I don’t even know if she broke out. She just makes things look just like.”

In every other design class, Jackson would have been the focus of the national media – the superstar’s deadly -safe heritage. But it was in one of the deepest design classes in the latest WNBA history – possibly – alongside Clark, Reese and Brink, all of which dominated national attention.

Part of this ramp light now begins to shine on Jackson, and more is expected.

“It is coming,” said Roberts. “Because of what she is, she is only a cold person. She does not demand this attention. She does no things to attract this attention.”

Sparks striker Rickea Jackson wants to pass the ball while driving against Valkyries Guard Veronica Burton during a previous season game in San Francisco.

(Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Brink believes that the “sky is concerned with the border for ‘Kea” for its potential. Brink goes through the same transition from the rookie to the young veteran and understands what Jackson experienced last year and what is ahead of her.

“She is a really talented player,” said Brink. “She took many big steps. … she will just continue to grow and I look forward to getting back on the pitch with her.”

This season Jackson is exceeded in the spotlight. . Others advertise the next breakout star of the WNBA. With a defined role, expectations come to a team that has now been built to win now.

Jackson has the full self -confidence of her trainer.

“Pressure is a privilege,” said Roberts. “That means that you do something right. … hug it on one level and ignore it on another … she has to learn how to manage it because she will become more and more aware of in the course of her game.”