The Los Angeles Sparks sent forward Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky in exchange for two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins in a WNBA trade.
The Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky completed a trade Friday, sending forward Rickea Jackson to Chicago in exchange for guard Ariel Atkins.
Atkins, a two-time All-Star and WNBA champion, appeared in 34 games with the Sky last season, averaging 13.1 points and a career-high 3.6 assists per game on a career-high 44.4 percent shooting from the field.
"Ariel is a proven winner and one of the most respected two-way guards in this league," Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said. "She's a champion, an elite defender and someone who understands what it takes to win in big moments."
Atkins is the first and only player in league history to earn an All-Defensive Team selection in each of her first five seasons, including a First Team nod in 2022. The Texas native is one of 11 players all-time with at least 3,000 points, 600 assists, 350 steals, 100 blocks, and 400 made three-pointers and one of five to reach those marks while shooting at least 36% from three and 85% from the free-throw line. In 251 career games, she is averaging 13.4 points and 1.5 steals per game with shooting splits of .426/.362/.850.
Selected seventh overall in the 2018 draft, Atkins spent seven seasons with the Washington Mystics, leading the franchise to five playoff appearances and a WNBA championship in 2019. She has also won gold with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup, and captured the FIBA Europe SuperCup championship in 2024 as a member of Fenerbahçe.
"I'm super excited for this next chapter with the Los Angeles Sparks," Atkins said. "From the culture to the vision, everything about this opportunity felt right."
Jackson heads to Chicago after two seasons in Los Angeles. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft has averaged 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over her young career while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three. She took a step forward in her second season, increasing her scoring average by 1.3 points while maintaining the same three-point percentage despite taking 1.8 more attempts per game. She received MVP votes last season, finishing in the top 10 in balloting.
"It's thrilling to acquire one of the great young talents in this league in Jackson," Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. "Rickea is only going to continue to ascend, and the organization is excited to witness that growth firsthand."
Jackson played collegiately at Mississippi State and Tennessee, averaging 17.8 points and 6.1 rebounds across 127 career games. Her 19.6 points per game at Tennessee ranks second all-time in program history. The 6-foot-2 Royal Oak, Michigan native recently participated in USA Basketball's Women's National Team Training Camp in Phoenix and has represented the country at multiple international events.
"In her two seasons with the Sparks, Rickea brought dynamic athleticism, scoring ability and a fearless approach to the game," Pebley said. "We wish her nothing but success in the next chapter of her career."