Sparks in Talks to Trade Rickea Jackson to Sky for Ariel Atkins

The deal would send the 2024 No. 4 overall pick to Chicago in exchange for the two-time WNBA All-Star.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the uniforms of the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks.The proposed Sparks-Sky trade would bring together two rising young stars, Rickea Jackson and Kamilla Cardoso, on the Chicago roster.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Sparks are in negotiations to trade forward Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky in exchange for guard Ariel Atkins, according to a report from Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile. Jackson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and has spent the last two seasons with the Sparks, while Atkins is a two-time WNBA All-Star who played one year in Chicago after being traded from the Washington Mystics.

Why it matters

This potential trade would be a high-profile move involving two young, talented players as the Sky look to overhaul their roster after missing the playoffs in 2025. Jackson would join fellow 2024 draft class member Kamilla Cardoso in Chicago, while the Sparks would acquire an established two-way star in Atkins.

The details

Jackson, 22, has averaged 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game over her first two WNBA seasons with the Sparks. Atkins, 26, has made two All-Star teams and four All-Defensive second teams during her career, winning a championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019. She averaged 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Sky in 2025.

  • The trade talks are ongoing as of April 9, 2026.
  • The 2026 WNBA Draft is scheduled for next week.

The players

Rickea Jackson

A 22-year-old forward who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and has spent the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Ariel Atkins

A 26-year-old guard who is a two-time WNBA All-Star and four-time All-Defensive second team selection, winning a championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019 before being traded to the Chicago Sky last year.

Los Angeles Sparks

The WNBA franchise based in Los Angeles, California.

Chicago Sky

The WNBA franchise based in Chicago, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“The Los Angeles Sparks are in talks to trade Rickea Jackson to the Chicago Sky, Front Office Sports' Annie Costabile reported.”

— Annie Costabile, Reporter

What’s next

The trade is still in the negotiation stage, and the details have not been finalized. If the deal goes through, it would need to be approved by the WNBA before the 2026 season begins.

The takeaway

This potential trade represents an intriguing swap of young talent, with the Sky looking to retool their roster after missing the playoffs in 2025 and the Sparks aiming to acquire an established two-way star in Atkins to complement their young core.