{"id":164161,"date":"2025-09-23T19:12:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/164161\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T19:12:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:12:11","slug":"this-year-taught-me-how-strong-i-am-mentally-and-physically-andscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/164161\/","title":{"rendered":"This year taught me how strong I am mentally and physically \u2014 Andscape"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the Los Angeles Sparks ended their season by missing the playoffs, forward Rickea Jackson<\/a> shifted her focus from the court to the runway. She went to New York Fashion Week and attended shows by designers such as Sergio Hudson<\/a>, Kim Shui<\/a>, Jane Wade<\/a> and LaQuan Smith<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI just feel like I\u2019m in my element. All the compliments, all the networking, meeting these people \u2013 it\u2019s been amazing,\u201d Jackson told Andscape. \u201cJust being where you want to be, being in these rooms, I feel like I work super hard to get here. I\u2019m continuing to grow my brand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rickea Jackson diary: Being from Detroit influences my style \u2014 \u2018we got that swagger\u2019Read now<\/a><\/p>\n

Jackson is using the offseason to explore her passions beyond basketball and to rest and recharge while preparing for her third year in the WNBA. While healing physically and mentally from the season are her top priorities, she also plans to be outside, citing Jamaica and the Dominican Republic as places she wants to visit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHealing for me in this offseason is everything,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cI\u2019m going on vacation multiple times [and] doing what I need to do for my mind, body and soul. Everything in my life has always been basketball \u2026 and rightfully so, like, that\u2019s what got me here. But in order to be my best self, be the best player that I can be, I need to take a little bit of time away, have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rickea Jackson diary: We\u2019re going to DisneylandRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

Jackson describes her second season in the WNBA as \u201covercoming\u201d and likened it to her rookie season after gaining a new coach and having to adjust to a new system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Early in the season, Jackson missed three games<\/a> after suffering a concussion, then missed an additional two games after initially returning from the concussion. A leg injury sustained near the end of the season caused her to miss the Sparks\u2019 final game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI played through a lot of hurt, mentally and physically. And at the end of the day, I stuck with it,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t make it to the playoffs, didn\u2019t come out on top necessarily, but in my book and what I was going through, I feel like I definitely overcame a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200b\u200bLooking back on this year, I feel like it taught me how strong I am mentally and physically and being able to push through the trials and tribulations, adversity, everything,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd keeping a level head and knowing at the end of the day, like, it will get better. There\u2019s always light at the end of the tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rickea Jackson diary: \u2018I have to be real with myself, have to give myself grace every day\u2019Read now<\/a><\/p>\n

Highlights of her season included a buzzer-beating, game-winning<\/a> layup against the New York Liberty, a career-high<\/a> 30-point outing against the Las Vegas Aces, and a career-high-tying<\/a> six 3-pointers made against the Dallas Wings. Jackson also became the first player in the 2024 draft class<\/a> to score 1,000 career points, and she increased<\/a> her averages year over year in points per game, 3-point percentage, free throw percentage and assists per game.<\/p>\n

She credits her growth in part to competing in the inaugural season of Unrivaled<\/a>, the 3-on-3 professional women\u2019s basketball league that brought together some of the top talent in the WNBA. Jackson, who played for Unrivaled\u2019s Mist Basketball Club<\/a>, used the opportunity to study WNBA championship-winning teammates Breanna Stewart<\/a>, Jewell Loyd<\/a> and Courtney Vandersloot<\/a>. On Monday, Unrivaled announced<\/a> that Jackson will return to play in its second season. <\/p>\n

Facing elite competition in a fast-paced environment gave Jackson valuable reps and sharpened her confidence, she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so fun,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cJust being under one roof with all these great players, I feel like anybody will get better, whether it\u2019s on the court, off the court, picking the brains of them, being in the same training room. I feel like it overall helps you as a hooper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jackson said it\u2019s meaningful for players to have the opportunities to stay in the United States to play basketball instead of having to go overseas to play during the offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNot everyone is built for overseas,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cNot everyone wants to go overseas, like myself, so that was always going to be a non-negotiable for me. The bag [money] would have to be crazy for me to go overseas, and my whole family would have to come with me, too, [or] I wouldn\u2019t survive.\u201d<\/p>\n

After finishing last season with a league-worst<\/a> 8-32 record, the Sparks more than doubled their win total, earning a 21-23<\/a> record this season and finishing ninth<\/a> in the league standings \u2013 one spot removed from the playoffs. During Jackson\u2019s two seasons in the league, the Sparks haven\u2019t earned a playoff berth, and she said the desire to do so is fueling her during the offseason. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe hunger that I\u2019m feeling right now is, I\u2019m starving,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cThe season can start back up tomorrow and I\u2019m ready to go. So I feel like Year 3, it\u2019s no games to be played. It\u2019s none of that \u2018I\u2019ma chill,\u2019 none of that. I\u2019m tired of it. I feel like I always get the short end of the stick when it happens. \u2026 I just got to be the dog that I know that I am and come out with that confidence from the jump.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rickea Jackson diary: I\u2019ve been a Candace Parker fan since I started playing basketballRead now<\/a><\/p>\n

Jackson said she wants to be more assertive going forward. She believes she has proven herself to be an elite scorer and now aims to build even more confidence, rebound more and take on greater responsibility next year. After several weeks of rest, once she ramps up her training, she plans to work on tightening her ball-handling skills, sharpening her defense and learning how to take more shots that fit into the Sparks\u2019 system of 3-pointers and layups.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t even lie, like, I\u2019m hyped for the next season. \u2026 I already know what work I\u2019m about to put in,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m already knowing what this team could be, so I\u2019m excited for it. I can\u2019t wait for it, honestly. So, yeah, everybody\u2019s got to watch out.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the final episode of her season-long video diary on Andscape, Jackson talks about attending New York Fashion Week, discusses her offseason plans, reflects on the lessons she learned this season, and shares what to expect from her next season.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tLiner Notes<\/p>\n

Production credits:
Camera:\u00a0Jason Johnson
Hair:\u00a0Katoya Johnson
Makeup:\u00a0Bobbie Riley
Stylist:\u00a0Victoria Jackson
Producer:\u00a0Hannah Jones
Executive producer:\u00a0Tasha Stewart<\/p>\n

Mia Berry is the senior HBCU writer for Andscape and covers everything from sports to student-led protests. She is a Detroit native (What up Doe!), long-suffering Detroit sports fan and Notre Dame alumna who randomly shouts, “Go Irish.” <\/p>\n

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