Lauren Jackson
Lauren Jackson
Lauren Elizabeth Jackson AOis an Australian former professional basketball player. The daughter of two national basketball team players, Jackson was awarded a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sportin 1997, when she was 16. In 1998, she led the AIS side that won the Women's National Basketball Leaguechampionship. Jackson joined the Canberra Capitals for the 1999 season when she turned 18, and played with the team off and on until 2006, winning four more WNBL championships. From 2010 to 2016,...
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth11 May 1981
CityAlbury, Australia
Coming into Christmas I didn't even know if I was playing again. I know the girls had a lot of desire to win. I think people lost a bit of faith in us when we lost a few games, but we just knew we could win it.
Helping the Opals win the gold medal is a goal of mine. That will be great for women's basketball in this country.
Our long-term focus is Beijing. For us to now know what it feels like to win gold is huge. We can only get better from here.
With Jenny Whittle (197cm) and Tracey Beatty (202cm) we're by far the tallest and I think it's going to be very difficult for other teams to double and triple team me.
I want to be something special. I want to be known as a great female basketballer.
When I'm on the court, I feel like I'm in my element.
I can be a much better player. I've got a long ways to go.
Leaving my family behind was very scary. I had to grow up quick. But being so young and paying in this league [the WNBA], I'm glad I did it because it's been the best experience in my life.
My mum gave up so much to have me, and now I want to repay her.
I love Seattle. I couldn't be anywhere else.
I always had that desire to become a great athlete.
I can see Sue and I leading this team to many more championships...We're going to take this and learn from it. We worked too hard for this.
I can't even begin to explain how important it is to all the people who have been involved in our program, and built it to where it is today. I can't believe we won. I can't believe we have the gold medal.
To play in front of this crowd is something I will never forget. I never thought I would get the chance to play for my country again in Australia.