Trading the second-overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft for Kelsey Plum was a bold move by the Sparks. It showed the organization’s faith in the core it had already assembled. Adding a veteran All-Star guard instead of drafting another young talent to develop alongside Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson signaled the Sparks’ desire to compete for a championship again.
So far, the trade hasn’t led to much success. While Plum has looked great, the Sparks currently have a 4-7 record and sit in tenth place in the regular-season standings—outside the playoff race. The Sparks have been plagued by injuries. Cameron Brink is still recovering from a torn ACL she suffered in her rookie season, Rae Burrell went down with a knee injury in the first game of the season, and Rickea Jackson missed significant time as well.
Jackson is back on the court now and the Sparks have plenty of time to turn things around. The key to achieving that will be Jackson’s ability to elevate her game to the next level.
Rickea Jackson is the key to the Sparks’ success this season
Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby are carrying a heavy load for the Sparks. Azura Stevens has done her best to help out, averaging career-highs in points and rebounds per game.
Nevertheless, it hasn’t been enough to carry the Sparks to consistent wins. Plum and Hamby are asked to do a lot and the team desperately needs another high-level scorer. Fans are eagerly awaiting Cameron Brink’s return from injury. Brink’s presence, even if she is not in top form after such a serious injury, will improve the Sparks’ defense, but she is not the player the Sparks should expect to emerge as the team’s third go-to scorer.
Rickea Jackson, on the other hand, should be able to do just that. Jackson started the season off rather slow, dealing with a concussion and missing extended time, but exploded for 30 points in the Sparks’ biggest win of the season. Los Angeles took down Las Vegas, showing flashes of what the team is hoping to build.
Jackson was the team’s leading scorer, allowing the Sparks to secure the win despite a bad shooting performance from Plum. It was a career game for Jackson—but not an unexpected breakout—and put her potential as a scorer on full display. If Jackson can continue to be this effective offensively while Plum, Hamby, and Stevens also play at a high level, the Sparks may very well turn things around and secure a playoff spot.