Chicago Sky acquire star forward Rickea Jackson in blockbuster trade

The Sky send guard Ariel Atkins to the Los Angeles Sparks in the deal.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 3:36pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the abstract forms of WNBA players in motion, with their bodies broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant colors representing the teams involved in the trade.The Chicago Sky's blockbuster acquisition of star forward Rickea Jackson signals the team's intent to return to championship contention in the WNBA.Chicago Today

The Chicago Sky have made another major move this offseason, acquiring star forward Rickea Jackson from the Los Angeles Sparks. In exchange, the Sky will send guard Ariel Atkins to the Sparks, with no draft picks changing hands. Jackson, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is coming off a strong second season where she averaged 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 steals per game for the Sparks.

Why it matters

The addition of Jackson gives the Sky a dynamic scoring threat to pair with their other recent acquisitions, including veteran point guard Skylar Diggins and first-round draft pick Jacy Sheldon. This trade is part of the Sky's aggressive offseason as they look to bounce back from a disappointing season and return to championship contention.

The details

In the trade, the Sky will send guard Ariel Atkins, who averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season, to the Sparks. No draft picks will change hands in the deal.

  • The trade was announced on April 12, 2026.
  • Jackson just finished her second season with the Sparks.

The players

Rickea Jackson

A 24-year-old forward who was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She just finished her second season with the Los Angeles Sparks, averaging 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 steals per game.

Ariel Atkins

A 26-year-old guard who has spent her entire WNBA career with the Chicago Sky, averaging 13.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season.

Skylar Diggins

A 7-time WNBA All-Star who was acquired by the Sky this offseason. She averaged 15.5 points and 6 assists per game for the Seattle Storm last season.

Jacy Sheldon

A rookie point guard acquired by the Sky in a trade with the Washington Mystics.

Angel Reese

A forward who was traded by the Sky to the Atlanta Dream this offseason in exchange for two first-round draft picks.

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What they’re saying

“Rickea Jackson is one of the most promising young players in the league, and we're thrilled to add her to our roster as we look to build a championship contender.”

— James Wade, Chicago Sky Head Coach

What’s next

The Sky will look to integrate Jackson into their lineup as they prepare for the 2026 WNBA season. They hold the 5th overall pick in the upcoming draft on April 22.

The takeaway

The Chicago Sky have made a series of bold moves this offseason, acquiring several high-profile players like Rickea Jackson, Skylar Diggins and Jacy Sheldon. These transactions signal the team's intent to return to championship contention after a down year, and the addition of Jackson gives them a dynamic scoring threat to build around.