The Chicago Sky acquired promising forward Rickea Jackson from the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday for two-time All-Star guard Ariel Atkins, the teams announced.
Jackson, 25, was the No. 4 overall selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft and averaged 14.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games (72 starts) over her two seasons with the Sparks. She averaged 14.7 points last season.
“It’s thrilling to acquire one of the great young talents in this league in Jackson,” Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a news release. “Rickea is only going to continue to ascend, and the organization is excited to witness that growth firsthand.”
Jackson will help fill the hole created when the Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream on Monday.
Chicago also announced the signing of free agent guard/forward DiJonai Carrington and the re-signing of legendary point guard Courtney Vandersloot.
Carrington, 28, has career averages of 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 162 career games (56 starts) with the Connecticut Sun (2021-24), Dallas Wings (2025) and Minnesota Lynx (2025). She averaged 9.8 points in 31 games last season between Dallas and Minnesota. Carrington was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024 with the Sun.
“We’re thrilled to bring DiJonai to the Sky,” Pagliocca said. “She brings speed, defense, versatility and a fierce competitive spirit, and we can’t wait to see her electrify Skytown.”
Vandersloot, 37, reportedly received a two-year, $1.5 million deal to return to Chicago even though she continues to rehab an ACL injury that occurred last June. The five-time All-Star, who has spent 13 of her 15 seasons with the Sky, ranks second in WNBA history with 2,886 career assists. Only Hall of Famer Sue Bird (3,234) has more.
“I truly believe the Sky are building something special, which made it a no-brainer to sign back,” Vandersloot said in a statement. “Finishing last season with an injury was disappointing, but I’m eager to be back on the court.”
Atkins, 29, became expendable when the Sky signed seven-time All-Star guard Skylar Diggins on Saturday.
Atkins averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games for the Sky in 2025. She spent her first seven seasons with the Washington Mystics before being acquired by Chicago prior to the 2025 campaign.
She earned All-Star nods in 2021 and 2022. Atkins was a first-team All-Defensive selection in 2022 after being a second-team choice the previous four seasons.
Atkins was a key cog on the Mystics’ 2019 title-winning squad.
Overall, Atkins has averages of 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 251 career games (246 starts). She has a 36.2% accuracy rate from 3-point range.
–Field Level Media
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