WNBA star Rickea Jackson and James Pearce Jr. at the NFL draft party on Thursday, April 24. Photo:
ESPN/X
Los Angeles Sparks star Rickea Jackson appeared to confirm fan theories that she’s dating football star James Pearce Jr. at a NFL draft party.
The 24-year-old forward was seen rubbing the 21-year-old football player’s leg in support as he learned he’d been selected as the Atlanta Falcons’ first-round draft pick on Thursday, April 24, in a video posted on X by ESPN. The pair were gathered at a celebration with his family in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C.
“The Los Angeles Rams have traded the 26th pick to the Atlanta Falcons,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that evening in a video that was shared by the organization on X. “With the 26th pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select James Pearce Jr., defensive end, Tennessee.”
Jackson playing for the Sparks in September 2024. Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty
As Pearce and his family heard the life-changing news, he can be seen getting side hugs and kisses on the head from the people surrounding him. The attention didn’t stop him from wrapping an arm around the WNBA player, who wore a black dress and silver necklace and was sitting by his side.
Followers on social media responded with big emotion to the affectionate moment.
“He winning on and off the field,” wrote one X user.
Another responded, “Look at Rickea. This why James BEEN the man lowkey lol.”
Fans were then surprised — and confused — when Jackson responded to the clip with her own post on X later that night.
The football star playing for the Tennessee Volunteers in November 2024. Jacob Kupferman/Getty
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“Soooo I have a doppelganger. Wow,” she wrote in a post that has been viewed more than one million times.
While some fans responded with skepticism, others were tickled by her humorous post.
Jackson and Pearce, who both follow each other on Instagram, have stirred up romance rumors before. The pair both attended the University of Tennessee, where Jackson played for the Lady Volunteers for two seasons before being selected as the No. 4 overall pick by the Sparks in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Pearce, meanwhile, was also a star at Tennessee, with 17.5 sacks over the last two seasons, according to The Athletic. He outperformed other edge rushers at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.47 40 (with a 1.56 10-yard split), the fastest amongst other edge rushers, according to the outlet.
