So after making everyone in the country wait and wait today it was revealed that Aussie Lauren Jackson will remain with the Seattle Storm for the 2009 WNBA season. I've attached the full story below...
On a side note, there are still several WNBA players who are left standing on the outside looking in, here are just a few:
1. Svetlana Abrosimova - rumors say she is not returning to the WNBA. Very sad she's an amazing player
2. Comet Players: Latasha Byears, Tamecka Dixon, and Mwadi Mabika still haven't been signed to a team.
3. Margo Dydek - Who wouldn't want her?
4. Detroit Players: Elaine Powell, Sheri Sam, and Kelly Schumacher. Kelly is one of my favorite WNBA players, it will be sad not seeing her play in 09.
5. Penny Taylor - may or may not return to Phoenix in 09.
6. Sheryl Swoopes - I was sad when I heard the Storm had waived her. 09 will just no be the same without her, especially after losing the Comets.
7. Nykesha Sales: Another one of my all time favorite players....very sad to see to her go especially after not seeing her at all in 08.
Seattle Storm Re-Signs Two-Time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson
May 4, 2009 SEATTLE - The Seattle Storm today re-signed two-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson for the 2009 season, Storm Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Brian Agler announced. Per team policy, terms of Jackson’s new contract were not disclosed.
“Lauren is a key to our team’s success and we’re thrilled she has decided to continue her career in Seattle,” said Agler. “She’s an MVP, an All-Star and one of the best women’s basketball players in the world. Her renewed commitment to this organization is a big asset as we continue to work toward bringing another WNBA championship to the city of Seattle.”
Jackson has received numerous accolades during her storied eight-season WNBA career. Most recently, Jackson was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2008 – the second time Jackson received the nod. Her first nomination to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team came at the conclusion of the 2005 season. Jackson compiled 147 total rebounds (7.0 rpg), 108 total defensive rebounds (5.1drpg) and 33 total blocks (1.57 bpg) in 21 games for the Storm during the 2008 season. Should she have qualified by playing the league minimum games, she would have ranked 11th (rpg) and 6th (bpg) respectively. Jackson missed five games prior to the WNBA's Olympic break to practice with the Australian National Team, and eight games following the break due to ankle surgery.
“I’m honored to return to the city of Seattle and the Storm organization as I take this next step in my WNBA career,” said Jackson. “To have the opportunity to continue to play under Coach Agler and alongside Sue and the rest of my teammates in front of the most loyal and passionate fans in the WNBA means the world to me. I appreciate the patience and continued support of our fans, and I look forward to celebrating the Storm’s 10th anniversary with them at KeyArena this summer. I can’t wait to return to Seattle and begin working toward another championship.”
Jackson was named the 2007 WNBA Most Valuable Player, receiving a total of 473 points, including 42 first-place votes. For Jackson, the MVP award was her sixth honor of the 2007 season; she was also named the 2007 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and WNBA Peak Performer for both scoring and rebounding. Additionally in 2007, Jackson was a first-team selection to both the WNBA All-Defensive Team and the All-WNBA Team.
Jackson was also named the WNBA's Most Valuable Player in 2003. She is the first professional athlete in Seattle to earn the prestigious award twice. The Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander was the NFL’s MVP in 2005, while Mariners Ken Griffey Jr. (1997) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001) have been honored by the American League as MVPs.
Already recognized as an elite player in the league entering the season, Jackson added to her rapidly-growing legacy with a career year in 2007. She led the league in scoring for the third time in her illustrious tenure with the WNBA, while her 23.8 points per game was a career-best. Her scoring average was more than five points-per-game higher than her career mark (18.6 ppg) entering the season.
An eight-year WNBA veteran, Jackson holds career averages of 19.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.0 blocks. Jackson has been named to the WNBA All-Star Team each year the mid-season classic has been played during her time in the league (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007). She has also received All-WNBA First Team honors five times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007) and was a member of the WNBA’s All-Decade Team in 2006.
Jackson, a native of Albury, Australia, won gold medals with the Australian National Team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Brazil and 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. She has also won silver medals with the Australian National Team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the 2002 FIBA World Championships in China, the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
The Seattle Storm will open its 2009 WNBA schedule on Saturday, June 6 in a 1 p.m. matchup vs. the Monarchs at ARCO Arena in Sacramento. The Storm returns to Seattle on Sunday, June 7 for its first KeyArena home game at 6 p.m., also against the Monarchs. The team’s June 7, 2009 home opener falls on the 10th anniversary of the city of Seattle being selected as one of four cities to receive a WNBA expansion team in 2000.
To see Lauren Jackson play against the WNBA’s greatest opponents, fans can purchase a six-game “All-Star Package” that features marquee matchups against the 2008 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock, the Los Angeles Sparks (with 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker) and the 2008 Western Conference Champion San Antonio Silver Stars.
Single-game tickets for all preseason and regular season games at KeyArena will go on sale Monday, May 4 beginning at 10 a.m. Six-game All-Star packages and single-game tickets for the 2009 season, starting as low as $14, can be purchased by clicking here.
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty Images
