Seattle Storm and Opals star Lauren Jackson returning to Australia’s WNBL – WNBA Update
Seattle Storm and Opals star Lauren Jackson will play three of the next five Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) seasons with Canberra it has been learnt.
The four-time WNBL Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be in Canberra’s uniform in the 2012-13, 2014-15 and 2015-16 WNBL seasons. Speaking about the opportunity, she said;
"I'm thrilled with the certainty this provides me and even more excited about continuing to play a major part in Australian basketball in the short term," Jackson said. "I want to be on hand and help drive the continued success
of this wonderful game in Canberra and Australia."
Jackson, who was voted by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history, averaged 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game during WNBA season 2011. She was injured for the major part of the season, but returned to
play for her team, the Seattle Storm, in the playoffs. She put in decent numbers, but Minnesota Lynx managed to topple the defending WNBA champions in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The 30-year-old will now miss the next WNBA season to prepare herself for the Australia’s London Olympic Games campaign.
The 6 ft 5 in centre forward is a pivotal part Australia bid for an Olympic gold medal. The Aussies are a force to reckon with in the women basketball circuit, but the Olympic gold has eluded the Opals in the last three versions.
Jackson is thought to have followed the lead of several other Australian veterans, who are already back home in an attempt to fight off younger rival for a spot in the 2012 London Olympics. A number of other prominent players of
the Australian national team are already back in the league after their stints overseas. Among them are Seattle’s guard Belinda Snell, Alicia Poto, Jenni Screen and Sam Richards.
The Opals will be hoping that Jackson returns to her full fitness at the earliest. Most of the Aussie national women players are in the twilight of their careers and if the Olympic gold eludes them this time, then another chance
may never their way.
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