It may be very early in the season, but with 44 games to play, no one wants to mess with the limited opportunity at hand. So, when the LA Sparks hosted the Minnesota Lynx, Rickea Jackson was ready for her moment. And she made sure it was clear before the game began. And why not? The star is buzzing with confidence after her rookie season, and especially after starring in ‘The Unrivaled’ league. The 3X3 league boosted her confidence, as RJ mentioned in an interview, “I felt like I got more confident.” And her female friendships she found there have had one of the biggest roles.

Before we get there, let’s talk about how the impact translated recently.

You see, the WNBA Stars are not only ruling the courts, they are slaying off-the-court looks also. For a Sunday game against last season’s finalists, Jackson made a bold fashion statement with her unique pregame outfit. Jackson walked the Crypto.com tunnel in a gray miniskirt and a matching top. What caught many eyes, though, was its combination with a futuristic overlay made of metallic gold hoops and straps wrapped around her arms and torso. Fans began going crazy over how her outfit was giving “Wakanda,” and along with them, her Mists teammate Aaliyah Edwards was also in awe.

She wrote on her X, “HOLD ONNN. get our baddie! Kea playing with a beat face now” with the eyes and heart emoji. Hyping up the look, Edwards called other Mist friends, Dijonai Carrington and Jewell Loyd, to check out the ‘Baddie.’ It’s interesting to think that all four athletes in the convo never played together in W, but share a common ‘Unrivaled’ bond. Yes, the connection formed during the offseason league seems pretty thick. And this was not the first time these ‘Mists’ stars showed their affection and connection in public domains.

During the NBA All-Star games, the trio of Rickea Jackson, Dijonai Carrington, and Aaliyah Edwards was together and even poked fun at actor/comedian Kevin Hart. Jackson retweeted the hilarious video of them taking a selfie with Hart and captioned it “The smallest guy I’ve ever met in my lifeeee.” The height difference didn’t go well as they found it difficult to fit in the frame with 5-ft-5 Kevin Hart. The Sparks rookie had a blast with her gals and Hart. So, the love shown by Aaliyah Edwards today was clearly understandable. Moreover, when Edwards shared an Instagram story with her black see-through dress, silver glass, and high boots, Rickea was quick to respond with “Okkk baddieeee” with heart eye emojis.

It’s fair to say that Unrivaled has certainly played its part in bringing the athletes closer and further improving how they see themselves in the mirror. Because that’s just how friendships, especially those among women, go. Besides her Mists teammate, some other vets have also made sure that Jackson has the support she deserves, as she shared, “I’m not a person who just reaches out to people, but honestly just how the vets gravitate toward me means a lot. Some on my team and some on other teams, I feel like it helps. Natasha Cloud, A’Ja Wilson, DeWanna Bonner, those are the ones that consistently show they support me, which means a lot. My godsister, Betnijah Laney. Just having that is pretty cool to have as a rookie.”

Having said this, another great friendship seems to be in the making.

Someone is going to get Jackson so many threes!

Last year, the Sparks had the worst record in the league, finishing 8-32. However, amidst all that chaos, Rickea Jackson emerged as a beacon of hope. She averaged 13.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, earning herself a spot on the 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Now, she is expecting the arrival of a better era for the franchise and has full faith in her teammates.

“I expect a way better winning record,” Jackson said on an episode of the Scoop B Radio podcast, “We got some new additions, some people coming back. I expect us to be a completely new team, honestly—new coach, new everything. So I just think we’re just gonna turn that page this year.”

So, yes, with a new era, you can also expect the spark of new friendships, and one that excites her the most is getting to play with Kelsey Plum, who joined the team in a major offseason acquisition. Jackson is so excited that she could barely contain it as she said, “I’m so excited to play with her. She was like, ‘Girl, I’m gonna get you so many threes!’ She’s amazing. I love her.” Kelsey Plum has been reciprocating that love, too. “She was like, ‘Girl, I’m gonna get you so many threes!‘ Jackson further shared, giving everyone a glimpse into the wholesomeness they are about to witness.