Last year, as frustration mounted over commercial-heavy All-Star coverage, the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament quietly stole the spotlight and reminded fans that midseason showcases can still deliver genuine excitement. Calls quickly followed for the NBA to adopt a similar format, but those hopes ultimately went unanswered. Now, Unrivaled is bringing the tournament back for a second straight season. This time, however, it will move forward without Rickea Jackson in the field.

Unrivaled has announced that Rickea Jackson, who was originally among the 32 players set to participate in the tournament, will no longer take part. The decision does not come as a surprise, especially considering what the Los Angeles Sparks forward went through earlier this week.

A troubling off-court situation unfolded involving Rickea Jackson after James Pearce Jr. was arrested in Miami-Dade County. Police reports state that the Atlanta Falcons linebacker allegedly trailed Jackson’s car, deliberately hit her vehicle multiple times, and tried to block her access to the Doral Police Department, where the case was lodged.

For those unaware, Rickea Jackson and James Pearce Jr. had been in a relationship for three years before Jackson ended it. The pair were both student-athletes at the University of Tennessee between 2022 and 2024, building their careers in parallel. Jackson was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2024, and in a moment that once symbolized their shared rise, she was seated beside Pearce when the Atlanta Falcons selected him on draft night.

In her statement to police, Rickea Jackson said she told James Pearce Jr. to “leave her alone” and blocked his number. Authorities alleged that he later used another phone to contact her and follow her vehicle, leading to the incident. The situation now casts uncertainty over what had been shaping up to be a promising NFL career for Pearce.

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As supporters rally around Jackson and hope to see her back on the court soon, attention will now shift to the 1-on-1 tournament. Unrivaled’s showcase still carries plenty of intrigue and should have fans locked in once again.

Everything You Need to Know About the Unrivaled 1-on-1 Tournament as Rickea Jackson Misses Out

The 1-on-1 tournament emerged as one of the biggest highlights of Unrivaled’s debut season, averaging 377,000 viewers for the semifinals and final. It proved there is a real appetite for high-stakes, head-to-head competition.

Last year’s tournament was nothing short of chaotic in the best way possible. The biggest shock came when Breanna Stewart was eliminated in the first round of the 2025 tournament by Aaliyah Edwards, failing to score a single point against her then-Mist BC teammate.

Edwards carried that momentum all the way to the final, where she eventually fell to Napheesa Collier, the inaugural Unrivaled MVP. Collier, however, will not compete this season as she continues recovering from injury.

For those tuning in for the first time, here’s everything you need to know about the tournament.

• Games will be played to 11 points or a maximum of 10 minutes, featuring a quick seven-second shot clock to maintain pace.
• Round one takes place on Wednesday, followed by the second round and quarterfinals on Friday. The semifinals and final are set for next Saturday.
• The final will be a best-of-three showdown, with each game played to seven points.
• There is serious money on the line. The champion pockets $200,000, second place takes home $50,000, and the other semifinalists collect $25,000 each.

While Rickea Jackson’s absence will be felt, the depth of the field remains impressive. Sixteen players return from last year’s tournament, including five quarterfinalists: Chelsea Gray, Aaliyah Edwards, Rae Burrell, Arike Ogunbowale, and Courtney Williams.

With newcomers Paige Bueckers and Kelsey Mitchell entering the bracket, there is even more reason for fans to tune in this year.