In a one-on-one trade, Ariel Atkins and Rickea Jackson are on the move in the latest swap of a speedy WNBA offseason.
A pair of WNBA clubs looking to return to playoff prominence have engaged in a Sunday swap.
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
The Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks opened the week by announcing a swap of Ariel Atkins and Rickea Jackson, a deal originally reported by Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports. It’s the latest move both sides have made as they seek to end multi-year playoff droughts.
TRADED
The @LASparks trade the contract of Rickea Jackson to the @chicagosky in exchange for the contract of Ariel Atkins via sign-and-trade.#WNBAFreeAgency Transactions presented by @StateStreetETFs SPY pic.twitter.com/ZlWzEN0qj6
— WNBA (@WNBA) April 12, 2026
Jackson Heads to Chicago
Jackson joins the Sky after establishing herself as one of the more promising young talents in the league. She was the fourth pick of the 2024 WNBA Draft out of Tennessee and earned All-Rookie honors alongside Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and new Chicago teammate Kamilla Cardoso.
WELCOME TO THE CHI, KEA! pic.twitter.com/vkBy35dlSI
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) April 12, 2026
She averaged 14 points and 3.6 rebounds in LA, and later played with several other young talents on Breeze BC during the second season of Unrivaled. Jackson will join fellow former Southern Californian Azurá Stevens, who returns to the Windy City after previously partaking in its run to the 2021 championship.
2026 WNBA Offseason: 2026 WNBA Free Agency Tracker | Collective Bargaining Agreement Deal | Angel Reese Traded to Atlanta Dream | WNBA Expansion Draft | Player Contracts (East) | Player Contracts (West) | Free Agency Core Tags
WNBA News: Connecticut Sun to Relocate to Houston | Key Dates | 30 Must-Watch Matchups of 2026 WNBA Season | WNBA’s 30th Season
WNBA Player News: Nneka Ogwumike Returns to LA | Jackie Young Returns to Aces | Tempo Land Mabrey, Sykes | Kelsey Mitchell Returns to Indiana Fever | Aces Bring Back Core | BG Lands in Connecticut | Liberty Sign Satou Sabally | Skylar Diggins Headed to Chicago
“It’s thrilling to acquire one of the great young talents in this league in Jackson,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a team statement. “Rickea is only going to continue to ascend, and the organization is excited to witness that growth firsthand.”
AA to LA
Los Angeles is currently nursing the longest active playoff drought in the W, missing each of the last five postseasons. It has engaged in a hunt for veterans to surround homegrown franchise face Cameron Brink over the offseason fastbreak, welcoming Nneka Ogwumike back to the fold while re-upping with Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum. The latter’s return was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, with Plum taking a one-year deal worth just under $1 million.
Ariel Atkins the dribble pullup master pic.twitter.com/bg9JJDL3kH
— Shabazz (@ShowCaseShabazz) April 12, 2025
With that in mind, Atkins will don purple-and-gold after a tour of Chicago that followed seven seasons in Washington. Atkins is more renowned for her defense, though she averaged 13.4 points on a career-best 44.4 percent from the field. She also brings further championship panache to a group that already features Hamby, Ogwumike, and Plum, as she was a part of Washington’s 2019 title team.
“I’m super excited for this next chapter with the Los Angeles Sparks,” Atkins said in a press release. “From the culture to the vision, everything about this opportunity felt right. I can’t wait to get on the court, bring my energy, and be a part of something special.”
Atkins’ Impact in Los Angeles
She’ll no doubt be counted on to help the Sparks’ defensive endeavors along with Ogwumike: Los Angeles finished two games out of the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot, and ranked at or near the bottom of several major rankings, no doubt played a part. The Sparks allowed just over 88 points a game last year and more than 10 opposing 3-pointers by the same metric.
“Ariel is a proven winner and one of the most respected two-way guards in this league,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley lauded in an LA statement. “She’s a champion, an elite defender and someone who understands what it takes to win in big moments. Her professionalism, competitiveness and versatility make her a perfect fit for our franchise and a key piece in our pursuit of a championship.”
The Sky and Sparks are set to meet three times this season, the first slated for July 10 in SoCal.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
The post Sunday Special: Chicago Sky Acquire Rickea Jackson, LA Sparks Land Ariel Atkins in Trade! appeared first on Ballislife.com.
