WNBA star Rickea Jackson withdraws from Unrivaled after a disturbing pursuit and alleged assault by NFL player James Pearce Jr.
Unrivaled’s highly anticipated 1-on-1 tournament will move forward this week without one of its originally announced participants.
According to Unrivaled's latest report, Rickea Jackson has officially withdrawn from the remainder of the Unrivaled season following a troubling off-court incident involving Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr.
The Los Angeles Sparks forward had been listed among the 32 players set to compete in the league’s second-season showcase, but her focus has understandably shifted elsewhere.
According to police reports from Miami-Dade County, Pearce was arrested after allegedly following Jackson’s vehicle, repeatedly striking her car, and attempting to block her access to the Doral Police Department, where the case was ultimately filed.
Jackson told authorities she had ended their three-year relationship and instructed him to “leave her alone,” later blocking his number. Reports state Pearce allegedly used another phone to contact her and continued pursuing her prior to the incident.
However, as of now, the Miami court has recently ordered Pearce to stay away from the WNBA star.
Jackson and Pearce were both student-athletes at the University of Tennessee between 2022 and 2024. She was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, while Pearce entered the NFL shortly thereafter.
What once appeared to be parallel professional ascents has now turned into a deeply serious legal matter.
As supporters rally around Jackson, Unrivaled confirmed she will not participate in the remainder of the season. While the league had hoped to showcase her talent in its headline midseason event, the priority is clearly her well-being.
Despite Jackson’s absence, Unrivaled’s 1-on-1 tournament remains one of the most compelling draws in women’s basketball’s offseason calendar.
Founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, Unrivaled launched in 2024 as a player-driven alternative during the WNBA offseason. Its debut 1-on-1 tournament averaged 377,000 viewers across the semifinals and final, quickly becoming a fan favorite for its intensity and simplicity.
Last year delivered genuine surprises. Stewart was eliminated in the opening round, while Aaliyah Edwards surged to the final before falling to Collier, who claimed the inaugural title. Collier will not defend her crown this year as she continues recovering from injury.
For those interested, here’s how the tournament works:
- Games are played to 11 points or a maximum of 10 minutes.
- A seven-second shot clock keeps the pace relentless.
- The first round tips off Wednesday, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals Friday.
- The championship is a best-of-three series, with each game played to seven points.
- The winner earns $200,000, second place $50,000, and semifinalists $25,000 each.
Sixteen players return from last season, including Chelsea Gray, Aaliyah Edwards, Rae Burrell, Arike Ogunbowale and Courtney Williams. Newcomers Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Mitchell add further intrigue to the bracket.
That said, Jackson’s absence will be felt, but the field remains stacked. As Unrivaled continues carving out its space in the basketball landscape, this year’s tournament once again promises high-stakes, head-to-head competition, even as the league and its players stand firmly behind one of their own during a difficult moment.