Rickea Jackson tore her ACL earlier in the season and has since been rehabbing after undergoing surgery. The Chicago Sky forward received advice from Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers, who suffered the same injury in 2022. She took it to heart and revealed a new nickname.
Bueckers provided wise counsel for Jackson. She emphasized how much she believes in the power of speaking to oneself and manifesting results, especially when dealing with a setback.
Jackson sustained her injury in May against the Minnesota Lynx. She drove hard to the basket during a fast-break and created separation from Nia Coffey. However, she planted her left leg awkwardly and immediately grimaced in pain.
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According to Alissa Hirsh of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jackson decided to give her injured knee the nickname “Ricknee-a.”
“Since seventh grade, everything has literally been basketball,” Jackson said. “When I go out of the country, it’s basketball.
“God felt like I needed to take a break from basketball. He felt like I needed to really feel everything that I was going through off the court and handle things like that.”
The Sky were unable to overcome Jackson’s injury and ultimately missed out on the playoffs for the third straight year. They currently sit at 15-24 and 10th in the standings.
If there’s any silver lining to their situation, it’s that they still have five games left and can still string together some wins. Finishing the season strong will give Chicago some momentum heading into the 2027 campaign.
Jackson will continue her rehab with the goal of returning next season. Next year will be Jackson’s fourth in the WNBA. It will be her second season in Chicago after the Los Angeles Sparks traded her to the Sky in March. She has the franchise’s full support, and the 25-year-old is handling her injury in stride.
