Former Lady Vols star Rickea Jackson first WNBA player to sign shoe deal with Skechers

Rickea Jackson has become the first WNBA player to sign a shoe deal with Skechers, according to a report from Boardroom on Thursday .

The former Lady Vols star is in the middle of her rookie season with the Los Angeles Sparks. It is a multiyear deal, according to Boardroom.

"Being the first WNBA player to join the Skechers roster is an incredible feeling," Jackson told Sneaker Game. "The brand is a rising star in the sports world."

The 6-foot-2 forward will be featured in footwear launches and in-store displays. Skechers started to sign NBA players players like New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, LA Clippers forward Terance Mann and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid last season.

"We’re proud of the player relationships we’ve established as we enter our second year on the court in basketball," Greg Smith, Skechers VP of product development and merchandising, told Boardroom. "Signing a premier WNBA player like Rickea has always been one of our top priorities, which is why we’re so happy to partner with her."

Jackson, who was drafted No. 4 overall in April, is hitting her stride in the league. She's averaging 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists halfway through the season.

Jackson's shoe deal as a rookie makes sense given her social media presence and brand off the court. She has 277K followers on Instagram, 416.5K followers on TikTok and 26.3K followers on X, formerly known as Twitter.

She also has leaned into fashion off the court with her pregame tunnel outfits. Jackson even had New York City-based designer brand Luar send her a runway outfit that she wore before a game in June.

JACKSON: Why Lady Vols' Rickea Jackson is thriving as Los Angeles Sparks rookie and leaning into fashion

Even though Jackson played just two seasons at Tennessee, she left as one of the fan favorites with her flair on the court and incredible scoring ability. She was a four-time WBCA All-America honorable mention, a three-time SEC All-Tournament team selection, a two-time All-SEC first-team selection and a top-five finalist for the Cheryl Miller Award both years with the Lady Vols.

Jackson finished her college career with 2,261 points, 773 rebounds and 244 assists. She averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists her final season at Tennessee. She had 29 games with 20 points or more, fifth-best in program history.

Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll . If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it .

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Lady Vols star Rickea Jackson first WNBA player to sign shoe deal with Skechers