𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 || 𝚓𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚒𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚡 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛
in which unrivaled unraveled who she really is
From the outside looking in, Jackie Young was a mystery.
People liked to call her “the silent assassin”—disciplined, laser-focused, and as emotionally readable as a locked vault. She didn’t do much press. Rarely posted anything personal. And even during the chaos of Unrivaled’s launch—flashes, media days, mic’d up segments—Jackie stayed cool and collected. Quiet nods. A soft smile if you were lucky. Answers brief and direct.
But anyone who had spent five minutes with her behind closed doors—especially you—knew she was anything but quiet.
You were her soft spot, her switch, her mouthy, assertive alter ego that only appeared when she thought no one else was looking.
Unfortunately for her, Unrivaled had cameras everywhere.
“Yo, Jackie!” Alyssa Thomas called from across the warm-up court. “Y/N’s dropping dimes already and we haven’t even tipped off.”
Jackie smirked, leaned on her knees, and looked at you—your signature undercut freshly buzzed, wristbands pulled high, flashing her that smug little grin you only gave her when you knew you were cooking.
“She’s trying to show out ‘cause she knows I’m watching,” Jackie replied, loud enough for the court mic to pick up.
Your eyebrows shot up. “Oh? You think I need you to show out?”
Jackie walked by you slowly, tapping your hip with the back of her hand. “I know you do.”
That was the first mic’d up moment that made it to TikTok.
@/wnbainsiders Jackie Young got jokes now???
[Jackie: “She’s trying to show out ‘cause she knows I’m watching.” Y/N looking fake-offended, Jackie laughing after walking away.]
@/user: NAHHH she talks to her like that?! @/user: They are flirting so loud omg @/user: She got that Rizz when she wants to LMAO
Later that week, Team Laces was on a five-game win streak. You’d been pushing tempo, taking bold shots—and Jackie, surprisingly, had been vocal during timeouts, backing you up in huddles.
“I swear, I didn’t know she talked that much,” Kate Martin said during a post-game livestream, laughing. “Jackie’s quiet with us. But with Y/N? She’s like... a whole different person.”
The next day, ESPN ran a feature called “The Many Layers of Jackie Young.”
The shift in narrative around Jackie didn’t happen all at once, but slowly—like people were finally seeing what you always had. She wasn’t just “shy Jackie.” She was playful. Competitive. Commanding. And when it came to you?
Possessive in a way no one saw coming.
You were watching game tape together in your hotel room one night, you on the bed, Jackie at the edge with a laptop balanced on her thighs.
“I should’ve hit you in the corner on that break,” she murmured, frowning at the screen.
You threw a pillow at her. “You’re allowed to shoot, babe. You literally had a wide-open lane.”
Jackie caught the pillow without looking. “Still. You were open.”
You smiled. “You don’t have to protect my ego.”
She turned to you, serious. “I’m not protecting your ego. I just trust you more than anyone else out there.”
You blinked.
Then grinned. “You’re lucky no cameras were on us right now.”
Jackie smirked. “Why? You’d be exposed for blushing every time I compliment you?”
@/unrivaledhoops Photo dump — Team Laces Edition [Jackie with a water bottle aimed at your head, you mid-laugh. You resting your head on Jackie’s shoulder during a timeout. A blurry video of Jackie holding your warmup jacket before a game.]
@/user: i love unrivaled bball @/user: no but why is Jackie looking like a wife @/user: That second photo… she only leans into Y/N like that 😭 @/user: Soft Jackie?? Loud Jackie?? Someone write the fanfic
After one game, a reporter tried to get bold.
“Jackie, we’ve noticed you’ve been more expressive this season. Is that—uh—due to a change in personal life or...?”
Jackie shrugged coolly, then smiled. “I’ve just got people around me now that bring it out.”
She didn’t say your name.
She didn’t have to.
Later that night, as the two of you walked back to your shared suite, Jackie’s hand brushed yours.
“Do you hate it?” she asked quietly. “The cameras. The way people are talking about us.”
You glanced at her.
“Do you?”
Jackie licked her lips, eyes soft. “No. I just want to keep what’s ours… ours.”
You nodded, intertwining your fingers with hers. “Let them see what they see. They’ll never know all of it.”
Jackie stopped at the door, pressing her forehead against yours.
“They don’t need to. Just you.”
