WNBA Rookie’s Mom Shares Heartfelt 4-Word Message, Beaming With Pride

Rickea Jackson continues to fill a slender void in the Los Angeles Sparks forward line, turning in a career-high scoring performance Sunday that earned him a warm tribute from his mother.

The No. 4 overall pick in April’s WNBA draft has taken on a larger role since low-post partner Cameron Brink’s devastating ACL injury, topping double digits in each of the last four games. Jackson’s most recent performance against Phoenix made national headlines after she tallied 22 points, six rebounds and three assists.

In response to a compilation of Jackson’s highlights, a social media account belonging to the player’s mother, Caryn Jackson, proudly wrote: “I can’t stop…I won’t stop.”

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Despite her high draft rating, Jackson went somewhat under the radar to begin the most anticipated season in WNBA history, starting in LA’s first five games. The Tennessee graduate made her first career start on May 28 in a six-point win over Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever, and the two top-five picks started side-by-side until Brink was eliminated in Connecticut.

In the 15 games before Brink, a former Stanford player, suffered her season-ending injury, Jackson played 24 minutes per game and averaged 10.3 points. Since then, her playing time has increased by five minutes per game while increasing her scoring average by one basket.

That trend has been especially pronounced in Jackson’s last four outings, where the power forward has played 35.5 minutes per game — Jackson logged 41 minutes in an overtime win over defending champion Las Vegas on July 5 — while averaging 15.5 points.