Rickea Jackson has torn her left ACL, the Chicago Sky announced on Tuesday morning. Jackson, who went down in Sunday’s win over the Minnesota Lynx, will miss the remainder of the 2026 season and undergo surgery to repair the injury.
“We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement. “Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year. Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court.”
Jackson averaged 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game throughout the first four games of the season, playing some of the best basketball of her career. The Sky were 3-1 in that span, accruing wins over the Golden State Valkyries, Portland Fire, and Lynx.
The 25-year-old was drafted fourth overall in 2024 and spent her first two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks before being traded to the Sky this past offseason in exchange for Ariel Atkins.
In Chicago, head coach Tyler Marsh was utilizing Jackson as a primary scoring option and reaping the benefits. Jackson, who had a standout collegiate career at Tennessee, averaged 13.4 points in her rookie season and 14.7 points in her sophomore campaign.
She becomes the latest WNBA player to tear an ACL, joining a list that includes Cameron Brink, Nika Muhl, Courtney Vandersloot, Skylar Diggins, Georgia Amoore, and Katie Lou Samuelson, among others.
