Jackie Young
A versatile and fiercely competitive wing who evolved from a top draft pick into an Olympic gold medalist and indispensable two-way force for the Aces.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 16·Generation Z
Biography
Jackie Young's career is a testament to constant evolution. Drafted first overall in 2019, her initial WNBA seasons were solid, yet it was a positional shift and a relentless drive to expand her game that unlocked her superstar potential. Transforming from a primary ball-handler to a powerful, off-ball wing, Young developed a lethal three-point shot to complement her aggressive drives and defensive toughness. This metamorphosis reached its apex in 2022, when she was named the WNBA's Most Improved Player and became a central figure in the Las Vegas Aces' first championship run. Her game is defined by a stoic, business-like efficiency on both ends of the floor. Beyond the league, Young's competitive fire shone on the global stage, winning a historic gold medal in 3x3 basketball at the Tokyo Olympics. Her journey from Notre Dame national champion to WNBA cornerstone illustrates an athlete who refuses to be defined by her initial profile, rewriting her own script through hard work.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Jackie was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jackie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Jackie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won an Olympic gold medal in women's 3x3 basketball at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo.
- Named the WNBA Most Improved Player in 2022 and was a key starter in the Las Vegas Aces' championship victories in 2022 and 2023.
- Selected as the first overall pick by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
- Won an NCAA national championship with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2018.
Did You Know?
She was a standout multi-sport athlete in high school in Indiana, also excelling in soccer and track and field.
She initially played point guard for the Aces before successfully transitioning to a wing position.
She scored a career-high 38 points in a game against the Dallas Wings in July 2024.
“I just try to be aggressive and get to the rim.”
