Lauren Jackson

Lauren Elizabeth Jackson is an Australian former professional basketball player, born on May 11, 1981. Arguably the most notable Australian women's basketball player, Jackson has had a decorated career with the Australia women's national basketball team (the Opals) and has had multiple stints in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) between 1997 and 2024. Between 2001 and 2012, she played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).


With the Australian Opals, Jackson played at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2024, winning three silver medals and two bronze medals. In the WNBL, she is a seven-time champion (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2024) and a four-time league MVP (1999, 2000, 2003, 2004). In the WNBA, she won two championships (2004, 2010) and three league MVPs (2003, 2007, 2010).


The daughter of two national basketball team players, Jackson was awarded a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1997, debuting in the WNBL at 16. She helped the AIS win the WNBL championship in 1999 before joining the Canberra Capitals, winning championships in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2006 during her first stint. She won her sixth championship in 2010 with Canberra and her seventh in 2024 with the Southside Flyers.


In 2001, Jackson entered the WNBA draft and was selected by the Seattle Storm. She played 12 seasons for the Storm, with her final season in 2012. She helped the team win championships in 2004 and 2010, earning Finals MVP in 2010. Ranking among the top WNBA players in various categories, she collected multiple individual accolades and was named to multiple WNBA Anniversary Teams.


Jackson has also played in Korea, Russia, Spain, and China. In 2016, she retired from basketball, later returning in 2022 to the WNBL and the Opals, retiring again in 2024 following the Paris Olympics.


Jackson was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

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