Rickea Jackson suffered a knee injury during Chicago Sky’s 86-79 road win over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday in Minneapolis. The 25-year-old forward went down with just over five minutes remaining in the second quarter. She had been driving toward the basket when she awkwardly planted her left leg. The impact buckled her knee immediately.
Jackson initially pushed through the pain. She stayed on the court for a couple more minutes before heading straight to the locker room with assistance. She did not return to the game. Despite her absence, the Sky held on to secure the victory.
Coach reacts to the injury
Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh addressed the situation after the game. He confirmed the team was waiting to fully evaluate Jackson’s condition. He also noted she was proud of her teammates for continuing to compete after she went down. He described her as being in decent spirits following the incident.
The evaluation process will determine the severity of the injury and provide a clearer picture of her availability going forward. Jackson is the Sky’s leading scorer this season. As a result, any extended absence would significantly impact the team’s offensive output.
Natasha Cloud calls out the officials
Sky guard Natasha Cloud, 34, directed sharp criticism at the officiating crew after the game. She argued that the referees failed to call a foul on the Lynx defender who made contact with Jackson just before she went down. Furthermore, Cloud said the officials did not adequately control the game overall. She received a technical foul during the contest for making her feelings known in the moment.
Cloud made clear she stands by her reaction. She argued that protecting players is the officials’ primary responsibility. In her view, that responsibility went unfulfilled on Sunday. She added that the pattern of players getting hurt across the league due to poor game control is unacceptable and needs to change.
A mounting injury crisis for Chicago
Jackson’s injury adds to an already serious depth concern for the Sky. Azura Stevens, DiJonai Carrington and Courtney Vandersloot have all yet to make their season debut in 2026. Additionally, Skylar Diggins missed Sunday’s game due to an eye issue. Marsh indicated she should return soon. However, the sheer volume of absences leaves Chicago operating well below full strength through the early weeks of the season.
Despite all of that, the Sky have shown real resilience on the road. They have built a 3-1 record in their last four away games. That run of form speaks to the depth of character within the roster. Nevertheless, the injury situation demands urgent attention as the season progresses.
What comes next for the Sky
Chicago now turns its focus to the home opener. The Sky host the Dallas Wings on Wednesday. That game gives the team a chance to play in front of their own crowd for the first time this season. Moreover, it offers an opportunity to build on the momentum from Sunday’s win before Jackson’s status becomes clearer.
The full extent of her knee injury remains unknown pending evaluation. Updates from the team are expected in the coming days.
Source: The US Sun
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