The Chicago Sky aren’t slowing down after dealing Angel Reese. They may already be lining up their next major roster shake-up, this time targeting Rickea Jackson in a potential deal with the Los Angeles Sparks.
According to Front Office Sports reporter Annie Costabile, Chicago and Los Angeles are actively discussing a trade that would send veteran guard Ariel Atkins to the Sparks in exchange for Jackson. While not finalized, the deal is expected to gain clarity as free agency opens. Chicago appears to be pivoting hard toward a youth-driven rebuild and Jackson could become the centerpiece.
Sky Doubling Down on Youth Movement
The Sky’s direction became clear the moment Reese was traded for future first-round picks. That move signaled a reset. Flipping Atkins for Jackson would confirm it.
Jackson, the No. 4 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has steadily emerged as one of the league’s rising scorers. She averaged 14.7 points per game last season on 42.4 percent shooting, building on a 13.4-point rookie campaign. Her ability to create offense at all three levels and her flashes of high-end scoring, including a 30-point performance against Las Vegas make her a natural focal point for a rebuilding team.
Layer in context, and the fit becomes even clearer. Chicago already has a young interior anchor in Kamilla Cardoso. Adding Jackson would give the franchise a modern frontcourt pairing with scoring versatility and long-term upside.
This is the type of recalibration Chicago arguably should have made earlier. Instead of accelerating toward contention, they’re now repositioning around timeline-aligned talent.
Sparks Side of Trade Comes With Questions
From Los Angeles’ perspective, this deal is more complicated. Jackson has been one of the few bright spots during a rebuilding stretch alongside Cameron Brink. Trading her now would mean moving off a 24-year-old scorer who is still trending upward.
However, Atkins brings a different kind of value. A two-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive selection, she provides immediate stability on both ends. She averaged just over 13 points and 3.6 assists last season and brings championship experience from her time with Washington, including a 2019 title run alongside Elena Delle Donne.
For a Sparks team potentially looking to balance development with competitiveness, Atkins offers a proven two-way presence. Her defensive presence also fits well as a contrast in a backcourt next to point guard Kelsey Plum. With Atkins as an added perimeter defending and forward Cameron Brink as a rim protector down low, Los Angeles would have a legitimate defensive infrastructure around their lead star.
Still, the timing raises questions. Selling a young scorer before her peak, unless paired with additional assets, could limit long-term upside.
A defining moment for Chicago’s rebuild
The Sky finished well below .500 last season and lacked identity. Now, they’re aggressively reshaping it.
Turning Atkins, who was acquired at a high cost, into Jackson would represent both a course correction and a forward-looking bet. It wouldn’t erase the impact of losing Reese, but it would provide clarity: Chicago is building for the future, not chasing the present. And if this deal gets done, that future may run directly through Rickea Jackson.
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