After a rookie year where Jackson was a notable scorer on a team that struggled to win games, she has become a key to the Sparks’ prolific offense. In games where she has 20 or more points, the Sparks are 8-0. While she is third on the Sparks in points per game, behind veterans Plum and Dearica Hamby, she’s had an especially strong impact in close games, scoring 17.2 points per game in matches decided by less than 10 points. The Sparks are 9-4 in those close contests.
In a statement game over the New York Liberty at the end of July, Jackson made a driving layup off of a play clearly designed to get her an open shot, beating the buzzer to give the Sparks the 101-99 win. A few weeks later, in a double overtime win against the Seattle Storm, Jackson tied the game with 17 seconds left, and then, on another play drawn up for her, sent the game to overtime with 4.9 seconds remaining. She finished with 27 points on 11-23 shooting in the close contest.
“I really love that my teammates and coaches trust me at the end of the game. That just shows the confidence they have in me. So I just make sure at the end of the day, I want to make them proud. So for them to believe in me like that, it just really makes you want to execute the play,” Jackson told The Next ahead of Wednesday’s matchup. “Really focus on the angle of the rim and what you need to do. So just very grateful to, you know, have a coaching staff and teammates trusting me on those moments.”
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While the end-of-game play was not drawn up for Jackson in the nail-biter against the Wings, the game showed a familiar pattern: she scored when it mattered most. This time, it was just in the first quarter, when the Sparks struggled to get going on offense. After the Sparks fell behind 9-0 to start the game, Jackson hit a three to put Los Angeles on the board. Two minutes later, another one. And two minutes after that, another one. By the end of the first quarter, she had 11 points and was 3-3 from deep. It remains true: when the Sparks are in desperate need of a bucket, they turn to her. Jackson averages 5.8 first quarter points, second in the league after only A’ja Wilson.
“When we’re not scoring, or it’s hard, [Rickea] just has a way of making big shots, and we needed her to score in that first quarter, and it just calmed everybody down,” Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts told reporters after the game. “And that’s what she has done consistently all season — been steady and consistent and made the shots when her team needs her too. I mean, 6-7 from three, led us in scoring — just a great job by her. Not forcing it and taking great shots.”
The Sparks will continue their quest to make the playoffs with a matchup against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday at 7pm PT.
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