3 WNBA players you shouldn’t sleep on this season, including Sparks star Rickea Jackson

The 2025 WNBA season is officially here, and so are players you shouldn’t sleep on.

If you’re unfamiliar with how we work here at For The Win, we like to do our best to educate fans on who the best players are, but also players who might fly under the radar. So, whether you’re a new viewer or you’ve been deep in the WNBA world for several seasons, you’ll appreciate this handy guide on a few players you might not want to sleep on.

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So, what exactly are “sleeper” players? These are the athletes who not enough people are talking about or have underrated games. In other words, you want to pay attention to their season because they are primed to make some serious noise. Let’s get into the sleeper players.

Here are three WNBA players you shouldn’t sleep on.

WNBA players you shouldn’t sleep on in 2025

1. Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson

A lot will be made about veteran Kelsey Plum joining the Sparks, but the name to watch is forward Rickea Jackson. Jackson had a stellar rookie season, and if the Sparks had a better record, she likely would have gotten a lot more recognition during the Rookie of the Year race. She started 35 out of 40 games for Los Angeles, averaging 13.4 points and nearly four rebounds a contest.

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What makes Jackson dangerous is that she has a signature midrange shot that is unmistakable, but she is also a sneaky good 3-point shooter. The Sparks forward had 12 games last season where she shot 50 percent or better from behind the arc, including a (career-high) lights-out 25-point performance on August 25 with six 3-balls against the Dallas Wings. If Jackson can open up her 3-point game more, it will be an added boost to a team that ranked 10th in 3-point shooting percentage last season.

2. Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso

While many people will rightfully look forward to Angel Reese’s development in Year 2, center Kamilla Cardoso is another who fans will want to watch. She missed eight games last season due to injury, but once on the court, it’s become clear that Cardoso is a trustworthy source of paint production and rim protection. In her rookie season, she averaged nearly 10 points and eight rebounds.

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Cardoso’s numbers will likely climb after full offseason of work and a new connection with the Sky’s point guards. Chicago’s guard-to-big connection suffered last season, often being inconsistent and disjointed. However, with the addition of floor general Courtney Vandersloot (and more patience under the rim), Cardoso is primed to increase her production. Look for Cardoso to average a double-double (perhaps 12 points and 10 rebounds) along with Reese, who will potentially act as an extra facilitator.

3. Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron

In case you’re unfamiliar with Washington Mystics rookie Sonia Citron, now is the time to get familiar. The former Notre Dame product was drafted No. 3 overall and is poised to make an immediate impact. She’s a player who can score on all three levels and is a scrappy defender with good instincts. It’s not uncommon to see Citron diving for loose basketballs, causing deflections, or just flat out taking the ball away from her opponents.

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In 22 minutes against the Indiana Fever in preseason, she had 15 points, four rebounds, one steal and a block. Also, there’s this: Citron started for Washington in both preseason games, a good indication that she’ll likely be a starter for the season. Do with this information what you will.

If Rickea Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso and Sonia Citron all have monster seasons, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: WNBA players you shouldn’t sleep on in 2025, including Rickea Jackson