Rickea Jackson's first season in the Unrivaled League has come to an end, and the next time we see her will be when the WNBA season begins.
Jackson, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, averaged (13.6) points per game for Team Mist. That team featured Olympians and WNBA champions Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd. The former fourth overall pick had three 20-point games, finishing the season with 22 points against first-place Lunar Owls.
Each day, Jackson gained valuable experience by competing in practice with Stewart and Loyd.
We talked months ago about how high her ceiling is. She has the potential to be a top small forward in the league with her ability to score in different ways. We saw how effective she can be when given minutes, as she averaged (16.3) points, four rebounds, and two assists after the Olympic break.
Now, we wait for Year 2 to begin.
The rivalry—or rather, the forced rivalry—between Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark has always been puzzling. They play different positions, thrive in different systems, and bring distinct styles to the game. Yet, despite these differences, debates surrounding them continue. Now, there's a new push to compare Clark to A'ja Wilson, and even JuJu Watkins, who’s only a college sophomore. But one name rarely thrown into the mix is Sabrina Ionescu—a player already in the WNBA, whose game mirrors Clark’s more than any of the others mentioned.
Let’s set the record straight: real rivalries—those that make sense, stem from the game itself, and are driven by competition—can be fun. They bring out the best in players and fuel the sport in a meaningful way.
When it comes to similarities, Ionescu and Clark are nearly identical. Both were ranked fourth coming out of high school, each choosing the less popular option among their offers. They sit atop the all-time triple-double list, showcasing their ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Offensively and defensively, they share striking parallels. Both have deep three-point range, and their statistical outputs aren’t far off.
So why isn’t this comparison pushed more? If any two players should be stacked up against each other, this is the one that makes the most sense.