Rickea Jackson shuts down speculation on absence, expects to return Friday

After missing the team’s last two games, Rickea Jackson returned to practice for the Sparks on Tuesday and looks set to return on Friday.

One of the standouts of last season’s team Rickea Jackson has been notably absent for much of this season so far.

Through eight games, Jackson has only played in three. She exited the game against the Lynx due to a head-on collision and missed the following game as part of the WNBA’s concussion protocols.

Jackson was back the following game against the Dream, but came off the bench and was on a minutes restriction.

In the following two games, she was out again, but not because of concussion protocols. The absence was described simply as “personal reasons” by head coach Lynne Roberts prior to Sunday’s game.

With social media being what it is, rumors started spreading like wildfire. Those ranged from issues with the coaching staff and a potential trade demand based on her not following the Sparks’ social media accounts to, because no one can be normal online, speculation of a pregnancy...which Rickea addressed herself on Twitter.

None of it was from a credible source and after Tuesday’s Sparks practice, Jackson made it clear this was all much ado about nothing.

“At the end of the day, the media isn’t about facts anymore,” Jackson said. “It’s about who can get out the quickest story that’s going to blow up the most. So that’s just the media just taking it with a grain of salt and not being gullible. I feel like, whatever sounds the juiciest, that’s what people want to go with. Like, ooh, I’m pregnant, apparently. So it’s like media is the media.
I never followed any team I played for since AAU. I like to follow real people. But, you know, rumors are rumors.”

It’s unfortunate Jackson has to clear up nonsense that no one with any validity stated, but sometimes stories run wild and it’s better to address it and nip it bud before it spirals further.

Now Jackson is back practicing and said she’s “pretty sure” she’ll play in Friday’s game against the Wings.

Hopefully, this is the end of this story and more importantly, Jackson remains healthy and can finally really get her sophomore season going for the Sparks to help them snap their losing skid to start the year.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.