LAS VEGAS -- Rickea Jackson isn't about making statements, and couldn't care less about the outside noise driven by social media trolls while she missed some time earlier this season.
The second-year star simply wants to help the Los Angeles Sparks string together wins, and if she happens to score along the way, so be it.
That said, Jackson made one heckuva statement during Los Angeles' much-needed 97-89 road win over the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday.
Jackson scored a career-high 30 points on 64.7% shooting (11 of 17) and grabbed seven rebounds in the win, complementing veterans Dearica Hamby and Azurá Stevens, who both finished with 19 points.
"I just feel like I just come in, do my job," said Jackson, who has turned in four of her top eight shooting percentages against Las Vegas during her career. "I feel like my teammates were just finding me. We were making the right play. I feel like we were moving the ball really well tied. Tied our (season) high in assists (24). So that just goes to show we're moving the ball. Great things like this happen. All my teammates had confidence, knocking it down themselves.
"So, we were just finding each other, and it's just fun to play like that. And I feel like when we play like that, we're all going to set a statement, it's not just one person."
Added Hamby: "Period."
With the win, the Sparks improved to 4-7, and are now one of five teams in the league with four wins, and are just one of three teams that have played 11 games.
After playing seven games over the first 15 days of the season, the Sparks will play just six games in 17 days while they anticipate the return of Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell.
And while there's an underlying confidence in knowing her team is getting better and healthier, Sparks coach Lynne Roberts is staying in the moment with who's active.
"I am very, very, very present process driven," Roberts said. "So right now, we're going to enjoy this, and tomorrow we're going to wake up, and it's all about the next game. It's all about Minnesota.
"I don't want to look up and think about that too much, because I think when you're looking up, that's when you trip. So yes, we're excited about getting those two back, and obviously they're talented. That's going to help us. But I believe in the group we got right now. I'm going to roll with the guys we got and be excited when we get those other guys back. But I like the group we have."
The Sparks will play the Lynx in Minnesota on Saturday.