The woes continue to pile up for the Los Angeles Sparks as they play without Rickea Jackson on Friday. Already struggling for momentum, the team will be without their star forward as they take on the Las Vegas Aces at the Michelob Ultra Arena.
Jackson has played just three games for the Sparks so far this season. She suffered a concussion during their second game against the Minnesota Lynx and was placed under the WNBA’s concussion protocol.
Why Is Rickea Jackson Missing the Aces Game?
Leading up to the much-awaited clash, an injury report by Rey Moralde of The Sporting Tribune saw Rickea Jackson sidelined for the clash. She was listed as ‘not with the team’ for personal reasons. Joining her on the report were Cameron Brink (left knee injury recovery) and Rae Burrell (right knee injury).
Earlier, Jackson was cleared to play against the Atlanta Dream. She played for 12 minutes, had no points to show for, and logged one rebound. The Sparks went down 88-82 and slipped further in the standings this season. Leading up to the game, LA head coach Lynne Roberts shed light on the forward’s recovery process. Per ClutchPoints:
SPARKS STATUS UPDATES (AT ACES, 05/30)
Rickea Jackson (Not With Team)- personal reasons
Rae Burrell (OUT)- right knee
Cameron Brink (OUT)- left knee
— Rey-Rey (@TheNoLookPass) May 30, 2025
“Our medical team did a tremendous job of just making sure her health is first. We don’t want to mess around with concussions. But she’s passed every kind of phase,” Roberts said. “She played a little three-on-three with some of our practice guys… just to get used to that kind of contact…when you’re in concussion protocol, you’re very limited in what you can do physically.”
The concussion occurred when Jackson collided with Minnesota’s Alanna Smith while both players dove for a loose ball near the end of the third quarter. Jackson’s face hit Smith’s back, resulting in the head injury that forced her to miss time.
How Are the Sparks Handling Their Injury Struggles?
In her three games so far, Jackson is averaging 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.4 minutes per contest. The Sparks frontcourt lacks depth with Jackson and Brink’s injuries. Dearica Hamby has been solid this season with 18.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 steals. Kelsey Plum leads the team with 25.2 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Plum’s arrival from the Las Vegas Aces was supposed to transform the Sparks into contenders. The three-time All-Star has been spectacular individually, ranking second in the WNBA in scoring and setting franchise records for points through six games. However, team success has been harder to come by.
Kelsey Plum’s Sparks debut:
37 PTS
6 AST
5 STLFirst player in WNBA history to reach those numbers in a game.pic.twitter.com/1uO2ysu0p6
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) May 17, 2025
The Sparks have endured a rough start to their campaign. After winning the opening game against the Golden State Valkyries, they went down in their next three games before winning against the Chicago Sky. The team’s record and playoff positioning remain a work in progress as they adjust to new coach Lynne Roberts and integrate their new pieces.
Cameron Brink’s absence continues to hurt the team’s frontcourt depth. The second-year player is still recovering from the ACL injury she suffered last season and isn’t expected to return until around the All-Star break in June.
What’s at Stake in the Aces Matchup?
This game carries extra significance as it pits the Sparks against Plum’s former team. The matchup will test how far the Sparks have come with their new roster construction and whether they can compete with one of the league’s top teams without their full complement of players.
Plum will face the franchise where she won two WNBA championships and established herself as one of the league’s premier guards. Her familiarity with the Aces’ system and players could provide the Sparks with valuable insights, though Las Vegas remains a formidable opponent even without their former star.
The Aces have had their own struggles to start the season, making this an important opportunity for both teams to establish momentum. For the Sparks, showing they can compete without Jackson would demonstrate the depth and resilience that championship teams need.
Roberts will need to find ways to fill Jackson’s minutes and production while managing a rotation that lacks frontcourt depth. The game represents another test of how quickly this rebuilt Sparks roster can gel under pressure.
