BROOKLYN, N.Y. –Rickea Jackson became the fourth consecutive Tennessee Lady Vol taken in the first round over the past four years of the WNBA Draft, with the 6-foot-2 forward going to the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round.
It marked the first time in school history that UT had players selected in the first round in four straight seasons. The previous high was three first-round picks in 2001 (Tamika Catchings), 2002 (Michelle Snow) and 2003 (Gwen Jackson, Kara Lawson), which was tied with the run from 2021-23. Tennessee is only the third school all-time to accomplish a four-year streak, joining UConn (2008-11, 2013-16) and Notre Dame (2012-15).
Jackson’s selection was the highest by a Lady Vol since Diamond DeShields was taken at No. 3 by the Chicago Sky in 2018. The Detroit native became the 19th all-time Lady Vol first-round selection in the collegiate draft (21st including the elite draft), following in the footsteps of No. 9 picks Rennia Davis (Minnesota Lynx, 2021), Rae Burrell (Los Angeles Sparks, 2022) and Jordan Horston (Seattle Storm, 2023) over the past three drafts.
Overall, Tennessee now has had 44 all-time selections in WNBA college drafts and 46 total including elite drafts. The four-time All-America honorable mention selection and three-time All-SEC performer is the Big Orange program’s 18th top-10 choice (20th including elite) and ninth top-five pick (10th including elite).
“Yeah, I’m definitely excited,” Jackson said about being drafted by the Sparks. “I’m just grateful that L.A. believed in me. They see something in me, and I see something in them, too. I had great talks with them prior to the draft, so I’m just grateful for it all.
“Playing at Tennessee and Mississippi State, it’s prepared me for this moment because life isn’t just trials and tribulations, but how you get through those, and I feel like I’ve overcome a lot of adversity. I’ve continued to stay strong, and that’s what got me to where I am today.”
Jackson joins Burrell in L.A., where the 2022 pick has spent the past two seasons. Jackson became the seventh Lady Vol to be selected by the franchise, following in the footsteps of Daedra Charles (1997 Elite, 1st Rd., 8th), Sidney Spencer (2007, 2nd Rd., 25th), Candace Parker (2008, 1st Rd., 1st), Shannon Bobbitt (2008, 2nd Rd., 15th), Cierra Burdick (2015, 2nd Rd., 14th) and Rae Burrell (2022, 1st, 9th).
“I feel like I’m excited to bring my versatility, play at any position, taking advantage of whether it’s a small guard on me or bigger or slower player, ” Jackson said. “I’m excited about that. Then, I just want to work on getting in tip-top shape after the injury. My conditioning was in the game trying to get back. I feel like when I’m in tip-top shape, world-class shape, that’s when I’m playing my best both ends of the floor.”
New this year, the draft was held at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in Brooklyn, New York. It marked the first time the draft was a seated event with fans in attendance since the 2014-16 drafts were held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Jackson, a 6-foot-2 forward, finished as the official SEC leader in scoring this season at 20.2 points per game and contributed a team-high 8.2 rebounds per contest while adding 2.3 assists per outing. Her single-season scoring average is the ninth-best ever recorded by a Lady Vol. Jackson shot 48.5 percent from the field and 78.0 percent from the free throw line after overcoming an early-season injury that sidelined her for eight games.
Jackson’s season stats were even more impressive against ranked teams, as she put up 25.0 ppg. and 10.0 rpg. in those contests in 2023-24. Over UT’s last 11 outings, which included three meetings with No. 1 South Carolina, one with No. 8 LSU and another with No. 11 NC State, the Big Orange star averaged 22.5 ppg. and 8.4 rpg. while shooting 52 percent from the field and 79 percent from the charity stripe.
The fifth-year standout recorded four double-doubles this season and 13 games with 20 or more points scored, including two with 30-plus. The number of 20+ efforts increased her two-year total on Rocky Top to 29, which ranks as the fifth-best ever by a Lady Vol behind only program legends Chamique Holdsclaw (83), Bridgette Gordon (58), Candace Parker (48) and Tamika Catchings (37). All of those players except Parker (three) spent four seasons at Tennessee.
Also reflective of her scoring prowess, Jackson tallied 1,176 points in only 60 games at UT, ranking No. 35 on a UT all-time scorer’s list that primarily features players who spent three or four seasons in Knoxville. Her 19.6 career average finished at No. 4 among Lady Vols, winding up behind only Patricia Roberts (29.9), Cindy Brogdon (20.8) and Chamique Holdsclaw (20.4) while finishing just ahead of Candace Parker and Jill Rankin (19.2).
For career point production, she generated 2,261 in 127 collegiate contests, ranking sixth among anyone who played at UT, including transfers. In 2023-24, she passed Tamika Catchings (2,113) and Candace Parker (2,137) and finished behind only Cindy Brogdon (3,204), Chamique Holdsclaw (3,025), Jill Rankin (2,851), Bridgette Gordon (2,462) and Patricia Roberts (2,447).
