Rickea Jackson’s ACL Recovery in Chicago Includes a New Perspective on Basketball

Sky forward uses rehab setback to build resilience away from the court

CHICAGO — Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson is approaching her ACL recovery with an unusual mix of disciplined rehabilitation, self-care and humor after the injury ended a promising stretch of her season in Chicago.

Jackson tore her ACL earlier this season after averaging 22 points over the three games leading up to the injury, a run that had raised the possibility of her first WNBA All-Star selection. The setback removed her from the court at a time when she appeared to be settling into a larger role for the Chicago Sky.

But Jackson said she has tried to make the recovery process more manageable by treating her injured knee with some personality. Former Unrivaled teammate Paige Bueckers advised her to give the knee a name as a way of encouraging patience and positive self-talk during rehab. Jackson responded by naming it “Ricknee-a.”

Bueckers, speaking on the Bird’s Eye View podcast, said she believes the language athletes use with themselves can affect how they handle difficult recoveries. Jackson has adopted that outlook while navigating the repetitive work required after a major knee injury.

Bedazzled ice machine becomes part of daily routine

One of Jackson’s new off-court hobbies, bedazzling, has become part of her recovery routine. She said she finds the craft therapeutic, particularly on days when motivation is harder to find.

Jackson and Sky basketball operations manager Maggie Maloney decorated the red ice machine Jackson uses on her knee, turning a piece of equipment she disliked into something more personal. Jackson said the change has made her more willing to use the machine, even though icing remains one of her least favorite parts of rehab.

Her training staff has celebrated incremental improvements, including new personal bests in strength work and increasing knee flexibility. Jackson acknowledged that the smaller milestones do not always feel exciting from her perspective, but they remain essential markers in an ACL rehabilitation program that can require months of daily work.

The injury also came after a difficult period in Jackson’s personal life. Assistant coach Latricia Trammell, who previously coached Jackson with the Los Angeles Sparks, said Jackson had seemed more at peace after arriving in Chicago. Jackson’s former boyfriend, Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr., was charged with battery and stalking following allegations that he repeatedly rammed his vehicle into hers while she drove toward a police station. Those allegations remain separate from Jackson’s basketball recovery.

Jackson studying teammates while sidelined

With basketball temporarily taken away, Jackson said she has been able to reflect on parts of her life that had long been organized around the sport. She has played basketball since seventh grade and said the interruption has given her room to explore interests outside competition, including longer nail designs and more time for different hairstyles.

Jackson has also remained engaged with the Sky from the sideline. She said she has been studying teammates closely, particularly DiJonai Carrington’s active hands on defense and veteran guard Natasha Cloud’s ability to work through screens. Those observations could help expand Jackson’s game when she returns.

She has also praised undrafted rookie guard Sydney Taylor, whom Jackson said stood out during training camp. Jackson believes Taylor, along with herself and center Kamilla Cardoso, can form part of a young core capable of lifting the franchise back toward championship contention.

The Sky fell short of their playoff objective, but Jackson said she remains confident in the organization’s long-term direction and pointed to the franchise’s 2021 title as a standard. For now, however, her focus remains on the daily demands of recovery. Jackson is continuing ACL rehabilitation in Chicago, with no return-to-play timetable provided.