South Carolina coach Dawn Staley drew a comparison between Lady Vols’ Rickea Jackson and Sheryl Swoopes.
Rickea Jackson holds a deep appreciation for the trailblazers in women’s college basketball. Following the Lady Vols’ 66-55 loss to top-ranked South Carolina at Thompson-Boling Arena, Jackson learned that Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley likened her playing style to Sheryl Swoopes, a Hall of Famer.
This comparison is not new to Jackson, who has often heard parallels with players like Chamique Holdsclaw while growing up. Expressing her admiration for Swoopes, Jackson also defended her against recent criticism related to comments made about Iowa’s Caitlin Clark on a podcast.
Acknowledging the comparisons, Jackson said, “Sheryl is just an amazing person. She continues to support women’s basketball each and every day. So be a Sheryl.”
In the game against South Carolina, Jackson tallied a game-high 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Staley, acknowledging Jackson’s prowess, praised her talent, predicting she is a top pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft.
South Carolina’s defensive strategy focused on limiting Jackson’s impact, bringing extra defenders to deter her shooting. Despite the defensive efforts, Staley commended Jackson’s resilience and anticipated a successful career both at Tennessee and in the professional league.
Grateful for Staley’s positive feedback, Jackson expressed the significance of the compliment coming from someone of Dawn Staley’s stature.
