Best described as either a late arrival to 2024’s WNBA Rookie of the Year discussion or perhaps its best-kept secret, Rickea Jackson, ironically, left observers with plenty to discuss, even from Day One. Officially entering the Los Angeles Sparks into their newest chapter at the first quarter’s 6:39 mark, Jackson divvied her impact across an assortment of ways. The No. 4 pick’s most noteworthy sequence, arguably, occurred during an end-of-half situation in which Jackson — in a matter of just four seconds — pickpocketed Haley Jones before showcasing her athleticism through a buzzer-beating finish. Over the ensuing four months, Jackson’s regular-season saga would further illustrate that ability to attract excellence within a short time; from July on, she averaged 16.1 points per game and totaled 354 points, No. 14 across the WNBA’s entirety. A potentially-generational three-level scorer with the competitive “it” factor to match, Jackson began her journey on May 15, 2024 against the Atlanta Dream, briefly previewing her enticing gifts through a seven-point, three-rebound, one-steal outing. The end results offered everything from shoe endorsements to statistical milestones attained by only the truly-elite Sparks legends, and ultimately, even a new nickname, should she please: “All-Rookie Rickea.” · May 16, 2024