Rickea Jackson Addresses Absence and Dismisses Pregnancy Speculation
Rickea Jackson, the forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, has taken a firm stance against swirling rumors regarding her recent absence from the court.
Missing the last two games due to personal reasons, Jackson faced speculation ranging from dissatisfaction with her role to claims of pregnancy. On June 3, after practice, she addressed these rumors directly.
“You’ve just got to be realistic with yourself. At the end of the day, media isn’t about facts anymore,” Jackson stated. “So that’s just the media. Just taking it with a grain of salt, and not being gullible.”
Jackson, 24, humorously acknowledged the pregnancy rumors, sharing a playful selfie on social media on June 1, where she posed with a basketball in front of her stomach, captioning it with “#ItsAGirl.”
When questioned by a fan about a friend's alleged comments implying her pregnancy, Jackson responded sharply. “1. My friends don’t use Twitter. Y’all gotta stop linking people because of a follow,” she wrote. “2. Y’all come to conclusions every day; it’s hilarious, but I’m a ‘rich auntie’ typa gallll.”
Speculation also arose regarding potential tension between Jackson and the Sparks, particularly after she unfollowed the team on Instagram and removed them from her bio. “Media is the media. I’ve never followed any team I’ve played for since AAU,” she explained. “I like to follow real people. But you know, rumors are rumors.”
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts refrained from discussing specifics about Jackson’s absence but expressed her support during a press conference. “In regards to Rickea, she is a big part of our organization and our team,” Roberts said. “She is taking personal time, and we support her. We’re excited to get her back when she is ready.”
The Sparks have struggled this season with a record of 2-6, yet Jackson remains optimistic about the team's trajectory. “I feel like the team is trending in the right direction,” she noted. “The third quarter is what got us down last game, but in the first half, we played great basketball; we moved the ball well.”
Previously, Jackson missed three games in mid-May due to concussion protocol but returned for one game before her current absence. The Sparks are set to face the Dallas Wings on June 6, though it remains unclear if Jackson will be available for that matchup.
