Rickea Jackson is setting the record straight on her absence from the Los Angeles Sparks’ lineup.
The second-year forward has missed the Sparks’ last two games, citing personal reasons, which has led to unfounded rumors ranging from her being unhappy with her role on the team to her being pregnant.
Jackson, 24, cleared the air after practice on Tuesday, June 3.
“You’ve just got to be realistic with yourself. Like, at the end of the day, media isn’t about facts anymore,” she said. “So that’s just the media. Just taking it with a grain of salt, and not being gullible.”
“Whatever sounds the juiciest, that’s what people want to go with,” she continued. “Like, I’m pregnant, apparently.”
Jackson, who averaged 13.4 points per game as a rookie, previously poked fun at the pregnancy rumors, taking to X on Sunday, June 1, to post a selfie as she held a basketball in front of her stomach.
“#ItsAGirl,” she wrote.
When a fan responded to the post and asked why one of Jackson’s friends was allegedly “implying that you’re pregnant,” Jackson fired back.
“1. My friends don’t use twitter. Yall gotta stop linking people because of a follow????,” she wrote. “2. Yall come to conclusions everyday it’s hilarious, but I’m a ‘rich auntie’ typa gallll.”
Internet sleuths also speculated there was some animosity between Jackson and the Sparks, claiming she unfollowed the team’s account on Instagram and removed the Sparks from her bio.
“Media is the media. I’ve never followed any team I’ve played for since AAU,” Jackson said. “I like to follow real people. But you know, rumors are rumors.”
Sparks coach Lynne Roberts did not go into details about Jackson’s absence but expressed her support in a press conference on Sunday.
“In regards to Rickea, Rickea is a big part of our organization and our team,” she said. “She is taking personal time and we support her. And we’re excited to get her back when she is ready to come back.”
The Sparks are just 2-6 to start the season, but Jackson seemed encouraged by the progress the team has made.
“I feel like the team is trending in the right direction,” she said. “I feel like the third quarter is what got us down last game, but in the first half we played great basketball, we moved the ball well and I feel like that’s who we are, that’s what we are. Just continue to trust in the system.”
Jackson also missed three games in mid-May after entering the league’s concussion protocol. She returned for one game before her most recent absence.
The Sparks’ next game is Friday, June 6, against the Dallas Wings. The team has not yet announced whether Jackson will be available.
