University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols In The WNBA Update: Sept. 9, 2024
September 09, 2024 | Women's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the 2024 WNBA regular season begins to wind down, former Tennessee standouts have showcased their skillsets around the league.
Rookie Rickea Jackson became the fourth player in Los Angeles Sparks history to score 400+ points in her rookie season. She joins the ranks of LVFL Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Lisa Leslie.
The Seattle Storm, with Mercedes Russell and Jordan Horston on the roster, currently reside in third place in the Western Conference and stand fifth overall in the league. They already have clinched a postseason berth.
The Chicago Sky, featuring Diamond DeShields and Isabelle Harrison, hold the fourth spot in the Western Conference and are in contention for the eighth and final playoff spot.
The Sparks, who feature Rickea Jackson and Rae Burrell, are in sixth place of the Western Conference standings (12th overall) and have been eliminated from postseason consideration despite key contributions from the Lady Vol duo.
Player Updates:
6'2 | G-F | Los Angeles Sparks | 3rd Season
Rae Burrell (2018-22), who has appeared in 32 games for the Sparks this season, tied her season best with 18 points and added five rebounds over 23 minutes of action against New York on August 28. During that contest, she sank seven out of eight field goals and was flawless at the three-point line, making all three attempts. Burrell is averaging 6.0 points and 14.9 minutes per game thus far.
Next Game: Sept. 10 vs. Connecticut Sun (10 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass, Spectrum SportsNet, NBC Sports Boston)
Rae was hooping tonight. 😤 pic.twitter.com/7DZNDro5DC
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) August 29, 2024
6'1 | G | Chicago Sky | 7th Season
Since returning to the Sky this season, Diamond DeShields (2014-17) has appeared in 32 contests. DeShields is averaging 4.5 points per game, with 1.3 assists and 1.4 rebounds, while playing 13.8 minutes per contest. DeShields has scored in double figures four times this season, and her most recent brush with double digits came on Sept. 6, when she tallied 10 points during the Sky's win against Las Vegas.
Next Game: Sept. 11 vs. Washington Mystics (8 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass, The U, Monumental Sports Network)
6'3 | F | Chicago Sky | 8th Season
Isabelle Harrison (2011-15) has seen action in 31 games during her first active season with the Sky. After missing 2023 due to injury, she is averaging 6.0 points and 3.2 rebounds while playing 14.5 minutes per game. In her latest contest, she scored a season-high 21 points on nine-of-18 shooting against Dallas on Sept. 8, marking her fifth double-digit scoring performance of the year. She also was flawless from the free-throw line, making all three attempts, and recorded nine rebounds.
Next Game: Sept. 11 vs. Washington Mystics (8 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass, The U, Monumental Sports Network)
1,2,3 for Izzy B!#skytown pic.twitter.com/iVdtfnBeTY
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 8, 2024
6'2 | F | Seattle Storm | 2nd Season
In her second season in the league, Jordan Horston (2019-23) is averaging 7.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals over 23.1 minutes per contest for the Storm. After undergoing off-season shoulder surgery, she has made a full recovery and has been a steady force for Seattle. Horston is coming off her tenth double-digit contest of the campaign, logging 16 points against Phoenix on Sept. 7. She knocked down seven of eight field goal attempts, including 2-of-3 accuracy beyond the arc.
Next Game: Sept. 11 at Los Angeles Sparks (10 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass Spectrum SportsNet, FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video - Seattle)
Always bringing the energy 👏 pic.twitter.com/e3cBdEUJtA
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) September 8, 2024
6'2 | F | Los Angeles Sparks | 1st Season
In her inaugural season with the Sparks, Rickea Jackson (2022-24) has appeared in all 35 of the Sparks' matchups and started 30 of them. Jackson is averaging 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 28.4 minutes per contest while shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 78.7 from the charity stripe. Jackson had a career-high 25 points vs. Dallas on Aug. 25 and contributed 23 on Sept. 8 vs. Connecticut. The LVFL now has reached double figures in 24 appearances, including 12 of her past 13 contests. She is averaging 16.4 ppg. during that recent spree.
Next Game: Sept. 10 vs. Connecticut Sun (10 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass, Spectrum SportsNet, NBC Sports Boston)
Legendary company.
— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) September 2, 2024
Rickea joins Nneka Ogwumike, Candace Parker, & Lisa Leslie as the only Sparks to score 400+ points in their Rookie season. @iamthathooper x #TheNewClassic pic.twitter.com/DgzzaQJID1
6'6 | C | Seattle Storm | 7th Season
In her seventh season with Seattle, Mercedes Russell (2013-18) continues to impact her team from the paint. This year, she has participated in 32 games, averaging 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds and shooting 52.2 percent from the field over 14.6 minutes per contest. On Aug. 26, she matched her season high of eight points during a 17-minute appearance against Washington, and she is coming off an effort where she pulled down a season-best eight boards in 25 minutes vs. Phoenix on Sept. 7.
Next Game: Sept. 11 at Los Angeles Sparks (10 p.m. ET on WNBA League Pass Spectrum SportsNet, FOX 13+, Amazon Prime Video - Seattle)
