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Rickea Jackson ACL Tear Ends Chicago Sky Season

5/20/2026

Summary

Jackson Out

Rickea Jackson tore her left ACL in the second quarter of the Chicago Sky’s May 17, 2026 win over the Minnesota Lynx, prompting a May 19, 2026 announcement that she will miss the remainder of the season.
Jackson had been averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game in Chicago’s 3-1 start, making her the team’s leading scorer.
Chicago’s $486,638 salary for Jackson in 2027 is guaranteed despite the injury.
The Sky’s injury list already includes Azurá Stevens, DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Vandersloot, while guard Skylar Diggins missed the May 17 game with an eye injury.
Chicago currently ranks first in defense but sits 11th in offensive rating (103.4), 12th in true shooting percentage (52.6%) and 10th in assist rate (63.2%).

Summary

Sky Acquires Jackson

The Chicago Sky acquired No. 4 pick Caitlin Jackson to replace Angel Reese after trading Reese to the Atlanta Dream, adding Skylar Diggins and Gabriela Jaquez.
Jackson averaged 14.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 78 games with the Los Angeles Sparks, drafted from Tennessee.
Despite Jackson’s injury, Chicago has four straight home games Wednesday against the Dallas Wings and remains tied for the league’s second-best 3-1 record behind the Las Vegas Aces.

History

Historical Context

In 1997, the inaugural WNBA season saw the Houston Comets claim the first championship, prompting the league to institute formal injury-reserve rules. Michele Roberts, league commissioner, set a $500,000 salary cap per player, and the Comets' star Cynthia Cooper averaged 22.3 points per game. Today, the Chicago Sky confront a similar challenge as Rickea Jackson’s ACL tear triggers a guaranteed $486,638 2027 salary, echoing early league’s injury-pay precedents. The precedent suggests teams will retain financial flexibility while prioritizing roster depth, influencing future trades like the Sky’s acquisition of Caitlin Jackson.

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Jackson Out

Rickea Jackson tore her left ACL in the second quarter of the Chicago Sky’s May 17, 2026 win over the Minnesota Lynx, prompting a May 19, 2026 announcement that she will miss the remainder of the season.
Jackson had been averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per game in Chicago’s 3-1 start, making her the team’s leading scorer.
Chicago’s $486,638 salary for Jackson in 2027 is guaranteed despite the injury.
The Sky’s injury list already includes Azurá Stevens, DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Vandersloot, while guard Skylar Diggins missed the May 17 game with an eye injury.
Chicago currently ranks first in defense but sits 11th in offensive rating (103.4), 12th in true shooting percentage (52.6%) and 10th in assist rate (63.2%).

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