Three of the most underrated rookies in the 2024 WNBA season

2. Rickea Jackson 

Rickea Jackson was the fourth pick in an incredibly stacked 2024 WNBA Draft and is a centerpiece of the Los Angeles Sparks’ future. Her numbers support that position. She is currently averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. She ranks third in points per game, third in minutes per game, and fifth in field goal percentage among all rookies this season. 

And yet, she does not get nearly as much attention as some of the other rookies, mainly Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. One reason for that is probably that the Sparks are not good. While other rookies have had huge impacts on winning, the Sparks have the worst record in the league. That is not really Jackson’s fault, though. 

When the Sparks win, she usually puts up big numbers. Two recent games the Sparks won were against the New York Liberty and the Dallas Wings. Jackson scored 19 and 23 points respectively. 

In ESPN’s latest WNBA rookie rankings, Jackson was ranked sixth behind Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Leonie Fiebich, Kamilla Cardoso, and Aaliyah Edwards. The main reason for that ranking was her below-league-average efficiency and bad defensive RAPTOR. We should remember that Jackson is not playing with the best supporting cast, though. 

Jackson will probably make an All-Rookie team but it still seems that she has been sort of the forgotten name from the top of the draft.