The Indiana Fever were eyeing their fourth straight win of the season as they welcomed Rickea Jackson and the Sparks for the second time in just nine days. Even without Caitlin Clark, the Fever entered the game as favorites, and for much of it, they played like the favorites. But just when it mattered most, Rickea Jackson stepped up, delivering a clutch performance to seal the win for LA. But it wasn’t an easy night for her.

Through the first three quarters, Rickea Jackson had managed just 8 points and struggled to make her mark, often getting shut down by the Fever defenders. The 6’2″ forward who played college ball for Tennessee and Mississippi State went viral for all the wrong reasons during the game. Two of her shots were sent packing by Indiana defenders, instantly making her an easy target for fans to troll online.

The first moment came with just over 30 seconds left in the opening quarter. Rickea looked to have a clear path to the rim after taking a handoff from Dearica Hamby and came off a screen for an easy layup. But to her surprise, rookie Mikayla Timpson was right there to swat it away. The second block, however, was even more embarrassing than the first. So much so that she had to ask fans to delete the video!

It was 5’8″ guard Sydney Colson who swatted Rickea Jackson’s shot with 2:54 left in the third quarter. While it was initially ruled a foul, the call was overturned after a successful challenge. The clip went viral almost instantly. Why wouldn’t it? Colson is significantly shorter than Jackson, yet still managed to come up with a clean block. Rickea couldn’t help but react to the viral clip herself, replying with a simple, “Delete this.” A playful response that showed she’s got a sense of humor – even when the internet’s having a field day at her expense!

Despite getting blocked by both Timpson and Colson and struggling for most of the night, Rickea showed up when it mattered most! In the final three minutes, she dropped 7 clutch points. This included a huge three-point play with 1:31 left that cut the Fever’s lead to just one. Seconds later, she knocked down a smooth mid-range jumper to put the Sparks ahead, which effectively sealed an 89-87 win for them. A huge loss for Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever, who managed to drop another game late in the 4th quarter.

Rickea ended the game with 15 points on 6-12 shooting while also adding 5 assists. After getting trolled for two viral blocks earlier in the game, she made sure to have the last laugh by sealing the win for the Sparks. Coach White had nothing but praise for Rickea after the game.

Coach White praises Rickea Jackson and co after their win against Caitlin Clark-less Fever

“I think they just put their head down and started to attack us,” White said. “They did a really good job of recognizing when our guards, our small guards, got switched on to. Whether it was (Rickea) Jackson or (Azura) Stevens. They also did a good job of executing some of their schemes.”

Azura Stevens ended up being the player of the game. She scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. She was ably supported by Kelsey Plum’s 20 points and 3 assists as well. Overall, it was a true team performance that helped the Sparks seal a well-deserved win.

With this loss, the Fever fell to 9-9 on the season. They’re now 5-5 without Caitlin Clark and will be eagerly awaiting her return. Her absence has definitely been felt. Do you think Clark’s return can help the Fever get back to winning ways? Let us know in the comments down below!