ANAHEIM, Calif. – For Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson, a day at the Disneyland Resort wasn’t just about mouse ears, roller coasters and castle selfies. It was also about sharing the experience with her 16-year-old mentee, Addyson Flowers from Dallas.
Jackson grew up idolizing Princess Tiana. The Princess and the Frog, her favorite movie, holds a special place in her heart because it was the first time she saw a Black girl represented in a Disney film. Jackson’s nickname “Beauty and the Beast,” which WNBA legend Lisa Leslie gave to her, became both a badge of honor and the creative inspiration behind her custom Skechers player edition (PE) shoes.
Although Jackson and her mentee had spoken on the phone several times, Addyson’s trip to Los Angeles in August was the first time they had met in person. As they enjoyed numerous Disneyland attractions, Jackson fielded questions from her mentee about the life of a professional athlete and the work it took to achieve success.
Mentoring is important to Jackson because she sees it as a way to shape and inspire the next generation. While she was growing up, her mother, Caryn Jackson, a former college basketball player at Kansas, offered Jackson guidance on how to approach the game. Now Jackson hopes to go further, becoming the kind of WNBA player who mentors young athletes in the way she wishes someone had done for her.
“It’s very important for me to give back and mentor girls because I wish I had someone like myself growing up,” Jackson said. “It’s different when it’s coming from somebody who’s actively in the league, who’s actively in a position that you want to be in one day.
“I love giving back. I love being there for these girls. I love them picking my brain and me asking them questions and whatever they need help with.”
In Episode 4 of her season-long video diary on Andscape, Jackson talks about the importance of mentorship.
A season ago, Los Angeles finished with a league-worst 8-32 record. With one game left in their regular season, the Sparks are 21-22 after defeating the Phoenix Mercury late Tuesday. However, just a few seconds later, the Seattle Storm clinched the final WNBA playoff berth with a win over the Golden State Valkyries, officially eliminating Los Angeles from playoff contention.