University of Tennessee Athletics
UT’s Jackson On 16-Player Wade Trophy Watch List
November 02, 2023 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – The 2023-24 Wade Trophy Preseason Watch List was released Thursday by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and Tennessee's Rickea Jackson is one of only 16 players to earn that distinction.
The Wade Trophy, now in its 47th year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I Player of the Year since 2001.
The Wade Watch list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee. The committee will review the list midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2023-24 season. The winner of the award will be announced in April during the 2024 WBCA Convention in Cleveland — site of the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Jackson's inclusion on the Wade Watch List is the latest preseason recognition for the 6-foot-2 forward from Detroit, Mich. Previously, the Lady Vol fifth-year player was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, SEC Coaches and Media All-SEC First Teams and AP All-America Honorable Mention Team.
In her first year on Rocky Top in 2022-23, Jackson produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest, shooting career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC. Her points average also ranked fifth all-time by a senior at Tennessee, and it qualified as the No. 5 career scoring average by a Lady Vol as well.
Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more a year ago, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
The three-time WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice and two-time member of the All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Teams got even better as the season went on, elevating her production to 21.4 ppg. and 6.4 in league play with 12 efforts of 20+ points. She then was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 25.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg through three contests of that event.
Over the summer, Jackson averaged a team-leading 14.6 ppg. and added 4.9 rpg. on the silver medal-winning USA squad alongside teammate Jewel Spear at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. Jackson's scoring average was fourth among the 109 players in the tournament, earning her a spot in the AmeriCup All-Star Five, and her 102 points for the week were the second-most in USA AmeriCup history behind Lisa Leslie (129, 7 games, 1993).
Here is the complete 2023-24 Preseason Wade Watch list:
The Wade Trophy, now in its 47th year, is the oldest and most prestigious national player of the year award in college women's basketball. It is named in honor of the late, legendary Delta State University head coach Lily Margaret Wade, who won three consecutive national championships with the Lady Statesmen. First awarded in 1978 by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), now known as SHAPE America, the Wade Trophy has been presented to the WBCA NCAA Division I Player of the Year since 2001.
The Wade Watch list of candidates for the Wade Trophy is composed of players selected by the WBCA NCAA Division I Awards Committee. The committee will review the list midseason to determine if additional players will be added based on their play during the first half of the 2023-24 season. The winner of the award will be announced in April during the 2024 WBCA Convention in Cleveland — site of the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four.
Jackson's inclusion on the Wade Watch List is the latest preseason recognition for the 6-foot-2 forward from Detroit, Mich. Previously, the Lady Vol fifth-year player was named to the Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, SEC Coaches and Media All-SEC First Teams and AP All-America Honorable Mention Team.
In her first year on Rocky Top in 2022-23, Jackson produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest, shooting career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the charity stripe. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC. Her points average also ranked fifth all-time by a senior at Tennessee, and it qualified as the No. 5 career scoring average by a Lady Vol as well.
Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more a year ago, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
The three-time WBCA All-America Honorable Mention choice and two-time member of the All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Teams got even better as the season went on, elevating her production to 21.4 ppg. and 6.4 in league play with 12 efforts of 20+ points. She then was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team after averaging 25.7 ppg. and 7.7 rpg through three contests of that event.
Over the summer, Jackson averaged a team-leading 14.6 ppg. and added 4.9 rpg. on the silver medal-winning USA squad alongside teammate Jewel Spear at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in León, Mexico. Jackson's scoring average was fourth among the 109 players in the tournament, earning her a spot in the AmeriCup All-Star Five, and her 102 points for the week were the second-most in USA AmeriCup history behind Lisa Leslie (129, 7 games, 1993).
Here is the complete 2023-24 Preseason Wade Watch list:
| Name | Institution | Position | Height | Current Year |
| Georgia Amoore, | Virginia Tech | G | 5-6 | Senior |
| Cameron Brink | Stanford | F | 6-4 | Senior |
| Paige Bueckers | Connecticut | G | 6-0 | RS-Junior |
| Kamilla Cardoso | South Carolina | C | 6-7 | Senior |
| Caitlin Clark | Iowa | G | 6-0 | Senior |
| Aaliyah Edwards | Connecticut | F | 6-3 | Senior |
| Rori Harmon | Texas | G | 5-6 | Junior |
| Mackenzie Holmes | Indiana | F | 6-3 | Grad |
| Rickea Jackson | Tennessee | F | 6-2 | Fifth Year |
| Elizabeth Kitley | Virginia Tech | C | 6-6 | Grad |
| Ta'Niya Latson | Florida State | G | 5-8 | Soph |
| Olivia Miles | Notre Dame | G | 5-10 | Junior |
| Aneesah Morrow | LSU | G | 6-1 | Junior |
| Alissa Pili | Utah | G | 5-10 | Senior |
| Angel Reese | LSU | F | 6-3 | Junior |
| Hailey Van Lith | LSU | G | 5-7 | Grad |
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballWBB | Kim Caldwell Media Availability (8.28.25)
Thursday, August 28
Lady Vol Basketball Season Attendance 2024-25
Thursday, April 10
WBB | Caldwell, Whitehorn, Spencer Postgame Presser | 3.29.25
Saturday, March 29
WBB | Highlights: Lady Vols 59, Texas 67 (3.29.25)
Saturday, March 29
