Taiyanna Jackson

Taiyanna Rajeen Jackson (born November 24, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for Hefei of the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA). She played college basketball for the Trinity Valley Cardinals and Kansas Jayhawks and was selected by the Connecticut Sun in the second round of the 2024 WNBA draft.

Early life Jackson was born on November 24, 2000, in Munster, Indiana. She attended Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana, briefly transferred to Montverde Academy, and then transferred back to Central and graduated from there. At Central, she averaged 12.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 2.2 assists per game, which included 17.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks and 3.1 assists as a senior. She was named all-area and all-state three times and was ranked as a four-star recruit, being the third-best player in Indiana per ESPN.

College career Jackson played two seasons at Trinity Valley, averaging 10.3 points per game and helped the team win a Region XIV title while receiving National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 14 Freshman of the Year honors. She transferred to the Kansas Jayhawks in 2021 and placed fourth nationally with a school-record 5.7 blocks per game, being named to the Big 12 Conference All-Defensive team and honorable mention All-Big 12.

In her second season at Kansas, 2022–23, Jackson was named unanimous first-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Defensive after leading the conference in rebounds, blocked shots, field goal percentage and double-doubles.

She returned for a final season in 2023–24 and broke the career blocks record at Kansas. She averaged 12.6 points and 10.0 rebounds and placed fourth in the nation for blocked shots, with 97. She also finished with a career total of 41 double-doubles, second most in school history.

Professional career Jackson was drafted in the second round, 19th overall, by the Connecticut Sun in the 2024 WNBA draft. She was waived on May 10.