SYDNEY (AP) — Five-time Olympian Lauren Jackson is taking her basketball experience off the court to become a “special advisor” in Australia's Women's National Basketball League.
A three-time most valuable player with the WNBA's Seattle Storm and seven-time WNBL champion in Australia, the 43-year-old Jackson will take up the part-time position with the league’s new owners. The NBL Group and Wollemi Capital Group Syndicate will officially take over the eight-team league on April 2.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of this next chapter for the WNBL,” Jackson, who retired after last year's Paris Olympics, said in a statement. “This league has been at the heart of my journey in basketball. Now I have the chance to help create an exciting future where our talented players thrive in a professional environment worthy of their skill and passion.”
WNBL chief executive Jennie Sager said having Jackson as an advisor was a “no-brainer.”
“She's a trailblazer . . . and someone who knows what it takes to build success,” Sager said. "Her deep connection to the league, her experience as a player and her vision for its future will be instrumental in helping us raise the bar and deliver a bigger, bolder WNBL.”
Jackson will continue to work with Basketball Australia as the head of women in basketball.
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The Associated Press
