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:

16. Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.

15. Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones won MVP in 2021.

14. Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike won MVP in 2016.

13. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings won MVP in 2011.

12. Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles won MVP in 2012.

11. Chicago Sky guard/forward Elena Delle Donne won MVP in 2015 and 2019.

10. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi won MVP in 2009.

9. Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles won MVP in 2017.

8. Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart won MVP in 2018 and 2023.

7. Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won MVP in 2008 and 2013.

6. Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore won MVP in 2014.

5. Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson won MVP in 2003, 2007 and 2010.

4. Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie won MVP in 2001, 2004 and 2006.

3. Houston Comets guard Sheryl Swoopes won MVP in 2000, 2002 and 2005.

2. Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper won the MVP award in 1997 and 1998.

1. Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson won MVP in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

1 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

16. Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.

1 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

16. Sacramento Monarchs center/forward Yolanda Griffith won MVP in 1999.

2 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

15. Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones won MVP in 2021.

3 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

14. Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike won MVP in 2016.

4 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

13. Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings won MVP in 2011.

5 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

12. Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles won MVP in 2012.

6 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

11. Chicago Sky guard/forward Elena Delle Donne won MVP in 2015 and 2019.

7 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

10. Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi won MVP in 2009.

8 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

9. Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles won MVP in 2017.

9 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

8. Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart won MVP in 2018 and 2023.

10 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

7. Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker won MVP in 2008 and 2013.

11 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

6. Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore won MVP in 2014.

12 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

5. Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson won MVP in 2003, 2007 and 2010.

13 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

4. Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie won MVP in 2001, 2004 and 2006.

14 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

3. Houston Comets guard Sheryl Swoopes won MVP in 2000, 2002 and 2005.

15 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

2. Houston Comets guard Cynthia Cooper won the MVP award in 1997 and 1998.

16 / 16

All-time WNBA MVPs, ranked 1-16

1. Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson won MVP in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

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. Brink and Jackson were drafted at No. 2 and No. 4 overall, respectively, with the hopes that they would be staple pieces for the franchise. However, a rookie year injury to Brink extended into the 2025 season, which didn't help their chances. Now, Los Angeles has seemingly decided to further lean into having a vet-led team, ending the foundation set with Jackson and Brink before it ever really took off.

The Sparks clearly want a title sooner rather than later, and getting back a veteran player in the trade, who won a championship in 2019, seems to support that notion. Atkins adds a lot of experience to what will likely be a veteran starting lineup with Kelsey Plum, Nneka Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby. She'll have to fine-tune her exact role within the offense, but should thrive by not having to do much, if any, of the heavy lifting. Atkins has Plum to set her as an on-court running mate and her own ability to create, which should greatly help. She also has Ogwumike and Hamby as other teammates she can lean on as the team develops an identity.

The downside to the trade is Los Angeles didn't recoup any draft picks. However, Chicago likely knew it couldn't give up any more picks after losing several over the past few weeks due to expansion draft and free agency trades, thus offering up one of its best players in return to the Sparks.

Sparks' potential starting line after trade with Sky

• G Kelsey Plum
• G Ariel Atkins
• F Nneka Ogwumike
• F Dearica Hamby
• C Cameron Brink

Chicago Sky: B+

Chicago moves on from Atkins after one season, a tough choice for a franchise that signaled it was in "win now" mode by acquiring the veteran guard in 2025. Chicago gave up the No. 3 pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, a 2027 second-round pick and the rights to swap 2027 first-round picks for Atkins. That's an awful lot of collateral for one season.

Perhaps the Sky felt the Atkins experiment didn't work. She missed 10 regular-season games, and in the 34 games she did play, the former Sky guard scored in the single digits 12 times. Or perhaps they wanted to do Atkins a solid by sending her to a potential contender after realizing that the franchise may be further away from winning a title than it originally thought. In either scenario, it's hard not to sense that the Sky took a huge swing on Atkins and ultimately struck out.

That said, Chicago is getting back Jackson in the Atkins trade and that's a win. Jackson, who has only played two seasons, is one of the most dynamic young forwards in the league. She brings energy on both ends of the floor, a strong scoring option in the mid-range and someone who can also stretch the floor and knock down the 3-pointer. She should pair well with center Kamilla Cardoso, who was drafted just one spot ahead of her.

Jackson also has a leg up in the trade because her former Sparks teammate Azurá Stevens is now in Chicago, and she also has experience playing with Sky teammates Courtney Vandersloot and DiJonai Carrington from the offseason league Unrivaled. Having familiar faces around should certainly help with Jackson's transition. She also has head coach Tyler Marsh to lean on. Marsh has a player development background and has hands-on experience in developing top talent across the league.

Sky's potential starting line after trade with Sparks

• G Skylar Diggins
• TBD
• F Rickea Jackson
• F Azurá Stevens
• C Kamilla Kardoso

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rickea Jackson, Ariel Atkins trade grades: Who won Sparks and Sky deal?