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Los Angeles Sparks star Rickeea Jackson seemed to raise some eyebrows during the opening round of the NFL draft.
Videos circulated across social media Thursday night, apparently showing the 24-year-old WNBA player sitting next to former Tennessee football star James Pearce Jr.
Moments after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell went to the draft stage’s podium in Green Bay to advertise Atlanta Falcons used the 26th total choice to choose Pearce, changed cameras to Pass Rusher’s home in North Carolina.
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Rickeea Jackson before the celebrity games ahead of 2025 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, February 14, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imag images)
Jackson looked to smile, wrap an arm around Pearce and rub his legs as the footballer’s family and friends celebrated the special moment.
Rumors of a romance between Jackson and Pearce have swirled for more than a year. Both athletes attended the University of Tennessee.
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Jackson eventually caught the wind of the viral videos and went to X to issue a response to Skrav.
“Sooooo I have a Doppelganger. Wow,” she wrote on x late Friday night.
The post had drawn more than 1.7 million views from Friday afternoon.
Jackson’s response was met with some skepticism, while others noticed the apparent humor in Spark’s Star’s message.
James Pearce Jr. From Tennessee, participate in an exercise at Lucas Oil Stadium February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
Jackson’s NCAA basketball career began in Mississippi State. She eventually transferred to Tennessee, where she rose to star status in her two seasons as a member of Lady Vols. The sparks prepared Jackson in the first round of 2024. She average 13.4 points per Battle during her rookie wnba season.
Falcons had NFL’s second lowest sack in total last season. Pearce finished his last season with Tennessee with 7½ sacks.
The scene under Atlanta Falcons’ election during the first round of 2025 NFL draft on Lambeau Field 24 April 2025 in Green Bay, Wis. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
But Falcons gave up a significant draft capital to get back in the first round on Thursday night to choose Pearce.
Atlanta sent Los Angeles Ram’s second round and seventh round elections in this year’s draft and the team’s first round selection in 2026. In addition to the rights to the 26th total election, Rams sent their third round election this year to Falcons.
