Chicago Sky Announce Rickea Jackson Season-Ending Injury Update
The Chicago Sky entered the 2026 WNBA season looking like one of the league's early surprises. Despite injuries throughout the roster, Chicago battled its way to a strong start behind the emergence of one player who appeared ready to become a true star. That momentum, however, took a devastating turn Tuesday when the organization confirmed the news many around the WNBA feared after Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Sky announced that Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI that revealed a torn ACL in her left knee. Jackson suffered the injury during Chicago's May 17 matchup against Minnesota and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. The team added that Jackson will undergo surgery to repair the injury.
"We're with you every step of the way, Rickea," the organization said in its statement.
It is a crushing development not only for Chicago, but also for a player who looked ready to take another major leap in her career during her first season with the Sky.
Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI that revealed a left torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury she sustained in the May 17 game against Minnesota. Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery to repair the injury.
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) May 19, 2026
We're with you every step… pic.twitter.com/8WauK7o29D
Rickea Jackson Was Emerging Into One of the WNBA's Brightest Young Stars
Jackson had been outstanding through the opening weeks of the season. The 25-year-old forward entered Sunday averaging 22 points per game while becoming the centerpiece of Chicago's offense.
Her combination of size, athleticism and shot-making ability quickly made her one of the toughest covers in the league. Jackson showed an ability to score from all over the floor, whether attacking downhill, creating in isolation or knocking down perimeter shots.
That breakout was especially important for a Sky team already dealing with injuries to multiple key contributors. Chicago had still managed to open the season 3-1 despite missing several important players, with Jackson carrying much of the offensive load.
The injury itself immediately looked serious.
Jackson went down in the second quarter against Minnesota after awkwardly planting her left leg while driving to the basket. She stayed on the floor for several moments before eventually being helped to the locker room. She was later ruled out for the rest of the game.
Following the win, Chicago players openly expressed frustration over the physical nature of the game and the lack of a whistle on the play.
Jackson's Basketball Journey Made Her a Star Long Before Chicago
Before arriving in the WNBA, Jackson built one of the most impressive resumes in women's basketball.
The Detroit native starred at Detroit Edison Public School Academy, where she led the program to three straight state championships while becoming the school's all-time leading scorer. Jackson was named Michigan Miss Basketball and earned McDonald's All-American honors before beginning her college career at Mississippi State.
She later transferred to Tennessee. where she became one of the SEC's premier scorers and a two-time first-team All-SEC selection. Her scoring ability and versatility helped make her the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks.
Jackson immediately produced at the professional level.
She averaged 13.4 points per game as a rookie and earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors in 2024. She followed that with another strong season in Los Angeles before being traded to Chicago ahead of the 2026 campaign.
Now, just as Jackson appeared on the verge of a true superstar breakthrough, her season has come to a sudden halt.
The Sky Face a Major Challenge Moving Forward
Chicago's early-season success had been one of the more encouraging stories in the WNBA. Second-year head coach Tyler Marsh repeatedly praised the team's resilience and chemistry as the Sky battled through injuries and adversity during a difficult opening stretch away from home.
But losing Jackson changes the outlook dramatically.
Replacing a player capable of averaging more than 20 points per game is never easy, especially for a roster already working through health concerns elsewhere. The Sky now face the difficult task of reshaping both their rotation and offensive identity moving forward.
For Jackson, the focus now turns toward surgery and recovery. ACL injuries remain one of the toughest setbacks in basketball, but many players have successfully returned from similar injuries in recent years.
At just 25 years old, Jackson still has plenty of basketball ahead of her. Even so, this injury is a heartbreaking interruption for one of the WNBA's fastest-rising stars.
Related: Rickea Jackson Speaks Out on Teaming Up With Chicago Sky Star Kamilla Cardoso
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 9:53 AM.