Rickea Jackson, Ariel Atkins trade grades: Who won Sparks and Sky deal?

After two seasons in Los Angeles, forward Rickea Jackson will continue her WNBA career in a new city. On Sunday, April 12, Jackson was traded to the Chicago Sky in exchange for guard Ariel Atkins in a splash WNBA free agency move. No draft picks were included in the swap of the two teams' stars.

It's hard to know the exact strategy behind the trades. However, for the Sparks, it seems to indicate wants to compete for a title in the near future. For Chicago, the move is a bit more unclear, but it does appears it believes in Jackson and what she brings to the table now and in the future.

So, who won the Sparks and Sky trade? Here are the grades for the deal, including instant analysis: Who won the Sparks-Sky trade? Los Angeles Sparks: C+ After a stellar rookie season, in which Jackson earned All-WNBA Rookie team honors, the Sparks forward seemed to struggle to find her footing during last season.

Under first-year head coach Lynne Roberts, Jackson didn't quite fit with the system. Her production was up and down the entire 2025 season, and she often took shots that were contested, a departure for the usually confident and surefire player. Jackson also won't get to spend more time developing on-court chemistry with her 2024 draft mate, Cameron Brink.