The Chicago Sky may still be sitting near the top of the standings early in the 2026 WNBA season, but Tuesday has brought in the kind of news that will put a question mark on their future. When the franchise just started looking like a possible championship contender behind Rickea Jackson, the Sky star suffered a devastating injury that will sideline her for the rest of the season. However, shortly after the heartbreaking update, Paige Bueckers made sure to send a message to Jackson that quickly caught fans’ attention online.
Bueckers shared a photo of herself and Jackson playing together on her Instagram story with a six-word message that read, “Small thing to a giant killa.”
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According to the latest updates, Jackson recently underwent an MRI that revealed a torn ACL in her left knee.
The injury occurred during the second quarter of Chicago’s 86-79 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday when her knee buckled on a non-contact play while attacking the basket in transition. Jackson immediately went down screaming in pain and remained on the floor for several minutes before being helped back to the locker room.
So after she completed the medical evaluation, the Sky announced that she would miss the remainder of the season and undergo surgery, with the franchise’s medical staff expected to guide her throughout the recovery process.
The timing makes the setback even tougher for Chicago because Rickea Jackson was in the middle of the best stretch of her young WNBA career. The 2024 first-round pick averaged 22 points and 6 rebounds per game through the Sky’s first three games while emerging as one of the league’s early breakout stars on both ends of the floor.
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“We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” the Sky general manager, Jeff Pagliocca, said. “Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year.”
So, during what is expected to be a long recovery process for Jackson, Bueckers made sure to show her support for her former teammate.
The bond between Bueckers and Jackson got stronger during the 2026 Unrivaled, where both players were drafted to the same team – Breeze BC. Their chemistry quickly became one of the most entertaining parts of the competition, with Natasha Cloud even mentioning on Bleacher Report that Bueckers and Jackson were among the league’s biggest trash-talkers.
But while the Dallas Wings star made sure to stand by her friend during a difficult moment, the Sky now face an even bigger question moving forward — who will step up and replace one of the team’s most important players?
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How Chicago Can Move Forward Without Rickea Jackson
Replacing the production of a player who helped power Chicago to its strong start will not come from just one player. So head coach Tyler Marsh will likely need multiple lineup adjustments and a complete offensive shift to keep Chicago competitive without one of its biggest stars.
The most immediate solution could be rookie forward Gabriela Jaquez.
The 6-foot former UCLA player has already shown flashes of what she can bring to the table after stepping up during Chicago’s win over the Minnesota Lynx once Jackson exited the game. Her relentless energy and the ability to stretch the floor effectively will help her to see a major increase in minutes, along with possible starting responsibilities. She is currently averaging 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
Another player to look at is DiJonai Carrington, who can handle defensive assignments on the wing. Carrington’s versatility gives Chicago flexibility in smaller and quicker lineups, especially because she can comfortably guard multiple positions. Her physical style and defensive intensity may become even more important now that the Sky have lost Rickea Jackson’s perimeter defense and athleticism.
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Chicago could also respond by fully embracing its size advantage in the frontcourt. They could shift their offense toward a heavier inside approach built around Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams. Cardoso is already averaging 12.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, and her role could grow significantly moving forward.
On the other hand, veterans like Skylar Diggins and Natasha Cloud will likely need to become more aggressive scorers while continuing to facilitate the offense.
There are several ways Coach Marsh could try to work around the absence of Rickea Jackson. But no matter how he reshapes the rotation, replacing a player who was rapidly emerging into an All-Star-level talent will easily become Chicago’s toughest challenge of the season. So now all eyes will be on how the team responds without one of its biggest stars.
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