“Jackie is just scratching the surface of how great she can be.” The fact of the matter is that very few people in basketball can do what Jackie Young does. As a former first overall pick, Young knows how to deal with expectations and give the best that she has to offer. And there’s no doubt that she has lived up to the hype so far! However, aside from her brilliant chemistry with A’ja Wilson and the two championships they won, some aspects of her life are quite interesting. 

We’ve seen the best of Young as she got an All-WNBA shout and a MIP award, but she has a lot more going on than basketball. The public, as always, has a lot of questions about this bona fide superstar in the spotlight. So let’s find out more about Jackie Young’s ethnicity, religion, and nationality, and take a closer look at her family roots and background.

Where is Jackie Young from, and what is her nationality?

Jackie Young was born on 16th September 1997 in Princeton, Indiana, and her nationality is American. Her mother, Linda, raised Jackie and her two siblings in Princeton while working as a nurse. Of course, without a support system, it’s hard to reach anywhere in sports, and the Las Vegas star had the best kind–a supportive mom. Through immense financial struggle, food insecurity, and hardships, Linda Young and her family persevered. 

She attended Princeton Community High School in Indiana, where she saw the first flashes of her basketball brilliance. Jackie Young, true to her nature, went out there on the high school hardwood and dominated, ending up with the all-time leading scorer award in both girls’ and boys’ basketball. She also set a state record of 36 points in the championship game, which her team ended up winning in 2015.

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And after that? She became a Fighting Irish. Young played for Notre Dame from 2016 to 2019, averaging 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.4 assists for her career. The six-foot-tall guard ended up winning a championship in 2018 and even won ACC Tournament MVP in 2019. Her greatness was reflected in the hours that she put into the sport and her efforts on both ends of the court. 

The ‘Silent Assassin’ has been absolutely fantastic for her country as well. With two Olympic golds, a 3×3 basketball gold that she won in 2020, and the 5v5 gold she won against Team France in 2024, her resume looks pretty stacked. The thing about Jackie is that she’s incredibly versatile. She will drag you up and down the court with her offense, and be an absolute menace on defense without even breaking a sweat! Even Becky Hammon had to stop and say, “You don’t want Jackie Young guarding you.”

What is Jackie Young’s ethnicity?

Fans often wonder what exactly Jackie Young’s family roots and ethnicity are. Well, the Las Vegas Aces star is a proud African-American, and so are her parents! Their pride, faith, and culture reflect in Young’s humble attitude and approach towards basketball.

Is Jackie Young Christian?

Religion is almost always an important part of an athlete’s life, and Jackie Young is quite public about her Christian faith. She is a devout Christian, citing Bible verses and sitting in prayer with her high school teammates. Young was a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Princeton Community High School and spent some time delving deeper into her faith and beliefs. 

There is no doubt that Jackie Young is an amazing basketball player, but she’s only 27! Her best days are still yet to come, and we can’t wait to see what she does in a more ball-dominant role in 2025. Without Kelsey Plum, she is playing an even bigger role in the Las Vegas offense, and we know she’s ready for it! Will Young be able to take Las Vegas to their third championship in four years? Only time will tell.