When it comes to snagging endorsement deals, Angel Reese has been setting the standard since her days at LSU. She is no stranger to big-time deals. But now, it seems like her moves are sparking interest among fellow 2024 draftees, too. Rickea Jackson, another talented WNBA newbie has followed her path.
Jackson is now the latest face to partner with Beats by Dre. The Beats X went all out with the hooper’s debut ad, captioning it, “Her game’s perfection. Rickea Jackson doesn’t miss, period. 🎀🏀.” In case you don’t know, Beats is owned by none other than Apple, the $3.439 trillion tech giant.
And while the Los Angeles Sparks star’s appearance in the ad is fresh, the Chicago Sky’s star rookie has been a familiar face for the brand since her college days, collaborating with Beats and even handing out headphones to her teammates back then.
In her Lady Tigers days, Reese became one of the brand’s youngest athletes, bringing her A-game both on and off the court. Reese’s latest ad for Beats even had icons like LeBron James, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi. Lending her voice to a project with such big names? That’s a dream collab.
Beyond their Beats deals, the two athletes were both named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. They even went head-to-head in a game, where Jackson made a statement with her performance. She scored over Reese, driving past her with a smooth layup in the second quarter.
Now, both Reese and Jackson have another big stage waiting for them: the Unrivaled League by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
The Unrivaled League: Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson, and possibly Caitlin Clark?
Reese has been vocal about the value of staying stateside instead of going overseas. Hence, it was no surprise that she became the first rookie to announce her participation with Unrivaled. “Being able to be in Miami from January to March, not having to go overseas,” she shared the benefits of the upcoming league last month.
“Nobody wants to go overseas… being able to make six figures within three months, being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better,” she added. It’s a solid deal for players who want to grow their skills without the exhaustion and complications of international travel.
Jackson’s addition to Unrivaled only makes it more exciting. Sparks head coach Curt Miller mentioned that she’s quickly become a fan favorite, especially in LA. And her stat sheet speaks for itself, averaging 12.6 points per game on an impressive 46.6% shooting.
USA Today via Reuters
Watching these two stars—Reese and Jackson—team up or go against each other for Unrivaled is a treat for fans who love seeing talent rise. Rumor has it Caitlin Clark might join Unrivaled, too. Though she’s still out on the golf course, it seems her offseason plans are up in the air.
Whether or not she joins, one thing’s clear: this year’s WNBA draftees aren’t just showing up on the court—they’re making moves off of it, too. Let’s see what else they have on their cards.
