Rickea Jackson joins fellow rookie Angel Reese in Unrivaled Basketball League

September 3, 2024

Los Angeles Sparks rookie sensation Rekea Jackson has been added to the Unrivaled Basketball League, a new 3×3 basketball league in Miami. WNBA Off season.

Founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, the eight-week league will begin in January and feature six teams of five players each, with 30 of the world's best women's basketball players expected to participate, 18 of whom have already been announced.

Unrivaled offers an alternative for players who want to earn money on top of their WNBA salary but don't want to move overseas. The league boasts a minimum salary of $150,000 per player and offers stock to all first-year players.

Rekhea Jackson becomes second WNBA rookie to join Unrivaled

With Tuesday's announcement, Rikea Jackson becomes the second rookie to publicly commit to play for the Unrivaled, the first being Angel Reese.

“I can be in Miami from January to March without going overseas,” Reese says. He told reporters last month“Nobody wants to go overseas. A lot of us don't want to go overseas, but unfortunately some of us have to go overseas. So within three months you can make a six-figure income, you can live in Miami, and you can just get better.”

Last month, Sparks head coach Kurt Miller noted Jackson's growing popularity in Los Angeles.

“She's a new generation of player that we're really paying attention to,” Miller said, “so when we decide who's going to be starting in Los Angeles, she gets the loudest applause. She's really, really popular.”

The No. 4 overall pick is averaging 12.6 points and shooting 46.6 percent from the field in her rookie season. Of the three rookies averaging double-figures in scoring (Kaitlyn Clark, Angel Reese and Jackson), Jackson has been the most efficient. She's also shooting 37.2 percent from the 3-point line.

“She's a really special player offensively and she's only going to get better,” Miller said. “She has the confidence now and knows she has the go-ahead without any hesitation. She's hitting the 3-pointer well now and it's really fun to see it propel her even more. She's going to be a special player and we're all watching that and seeing the growth.”

While there is a long list of potential recruits who could help generate interest in Unrivaled, Collier confirmed that there are only four recruits in the freshman class so far: Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin, both of whom are Best selling jerseys So far this season, both teams are likely to compete for the final spot, but neither has publicly committed to participating.