Last season, the Los Angeles Sparks returned from the break riding high on some international bling – Dearica Hamby came back with a 3×3 bronze, Stephanie Talbot had one too from her 5×5 run with Australia, and head coach Curt Miller came back with gold from Team USA’s 5×5 triumph. But well, none of that momentum followed them into the W. Out of all, the only shining spot was then-rookie Rickea Jackson. She exceeded even the most hyped projections. But, currently happening are making everyone question: Has her time already come to an end in LA?
You know what, this season was supposed to be different. The Sparks came in laser-focused on one thing: winning. After a rough 2024 with just eight wins, they hit reset with new head coach Lynne Roberts and a starry core of Hamby, Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Kelsey Plum. A perfect blend of youth and experience.
Everything was lining up to finally break the playoff drought that’s haunted LA since Candace Parker left town. No playoffs since 2020 has been a tough pill to swallow, but things were looking up. And then came the injuries.
Brink and Rae Burrell were both already out with knee injuries, and just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, Rickea Jackson went down too. In the season opener against the Minnesota Lynx, she collided with Alanna Smith chasing a loose ball late in the third quarter. She stayed down for a long time, and even though she managed to walk to the bench on her own, she didn’t come back for the rest of the game.
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts on Rickea Jackson taking personal time away from the team and why the Sparks need to do the simple things for 40 minutes to have a good shot against the Phoenix Mercury. pic.twitter.com/YPFtxqOwF4
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) June 1, 2025
She finally returned to action on May 27 vs. Atlanta after entering concussion protocol on May 18. But it didn’t look great. She played just 12 minutes, went 0-of-3 from the floor, and grabbed just one rebound. After the loss, she looked visibly emotional. And then came the real shocker. In the next game against the Aces, Jackson was ruled “NWT” (Not With Team) due to personal reasons. Now, any time a player misses a game for something other than an injury or suspension, fans panic. This was no different.
But it gets messier.
Fans noticed she had unfollowed the LA Sparks on Instagram and even scrubbed them from her bio. That definitely raised some eyebrows. While that might not confirm anything, it does add to the cloud of mystery. Meanwhile, Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts tried to calm the storm saying, “She is a big part of our organisation, our team. She is taking personal time and we support her and we are excited to get her back when she’ll be ready.” Still, you can’t blame fans for wondering what’s really going on.
If- and that’s a big if – she’s planning to leave, that’s a massive blow to the Sparks. Jackson was averaging 13.4 points and nearly 4 rebounds last season. This year, it has dipped to 7.0 points and 3 boards. Sure, it’s been a rough start for the second-year forward, but LA fans still believe in her long-term upside.
Plus, Rickea’s not just about stats. She’s part of the team’s culture. At media day, she was one of the players mentioned in that fun little debate over who the goofiest on the roster was. That vibe, that energy…it matters. And right now, the Sparks need every ounce of it as they prep for a rare stretch of practice time.
They don’t hit the court again until Friday, June 6, when they face the Dallas Wings on the road. So, till then, we wait. Maybe it’s just personal time. Maybe it’s something more. But for now, her teammate has also got a “little” update.
Rickea Jackson’s breakthrough nears as Sparks await a full house
Sparks fans, there’s finally a flicker of hope on the horizon. While Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and the rest of the top-tier 2024 draft class have been soaking up the spotlight, one name we haven’t heard enough lately is Cameron Brink. But the defensive phenom, who went No. 2 right after Clark, is slowly inching her way back.
Brink turned heads at Stanford with her 14.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and a national-best 3.7 blocks per game. But just as her rookie campaign with L.A. was starting to take shape, an ACL tear after only 15 games cut her season short last June. At the time, she was averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 boards, and 1.7 assists.
Since her surgery in July, fans have been waiting (and refreshing Twitter) for updates. And this weekend, Brink finally gave one..sort of. Asked by Spectrum SportsNet how things were going, she smiled, praised the Sparks’ support system, and dropped the most hope-filled line we’ve heard in a while. “It’s gonna take a little bit until I’m back out there, but it’s feeling good,” she said.
May 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) blocks a shot by Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mentally, though, Brink’s already done the work. “You learn the power of attitude and resilience,” she said. “I’ve grown a lot. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve got great people in my corner. Grit, for sure.” So when exactly will we see her back? No official date yet. But the tone definitely feels like a return is weeks – not months – away. Let’s hope that happens soon and LA gets its full arsenal back. All eyes now on Rickea Jackson.
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