A Thank You To Lauren Jackson...

A tweet from Fox Sports Australia yesterday confirmed what so many knew was going to happen sooner, rather than later. It stated that Lauren Jackson, one of the greatest women's basketball players to ever play the game was not going to the Olympic games in Rio and was going to retire. It was a sad moment, some thought that she would try to comeback for the 2016 WNBA season and play with Sue Bird and newcomer Breanna Stewart one last time. Alas, it was not meant to happen. So while the official announcement of her retirement at the age of 34 happens tonight, I thought I would look back and reflect on what she has done for the game of basketball.

As I look back on Lauren Jackson's basketball career, it is simply astounding as to what she was able to accomplish at such a young age. She was one of the promising young Australian players who made the under 20 team at just 14 years of age, and joined the senior team at just 16 years old. Four years later, she was drafted to the Seattle Storm at 20 years old and soon became a star not only internationally, but in the United States as well. She was not just a great offensive player, but a great defensive player as well. She and Lisa Leslie had many memorable battles in the paint as two greats went up against each other.

One of the best memories I can recall of Lauren Jackson is from the 2012 WNBA season. Lauren Jackson had been struggling with injuries and only played 9 games during the regular season. When the playoffs started, Seattle faced the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in a tough opening series that went to all three games. Despite all the injuries, Lauren Jackson came to play and Seattle almost upset the Minnesota Lynx. That would be the last time Lauren Jackson ever played in a WNBA game and no one knew it at that time.

Injuries are hard, especially in basketball. They take away stars for a couple of months, sometimes a year or more. They unfortunately decide who will be able to compete for the championship and there's always a sense of what could have been, etc. But, that does not take away from anything Lauren Jackson did on the basketball court. She came, she played and she dominated. She helped Australia women's and girl’s basketball get to another level. If you ask any young Australian girls player, they will tell you that Lauren Jackson is one of their role models. Although, I started to watch the WNBA in the 2008 season, I was marveled by well she played the game. Their 2010 WNBA championship season was simply one of the best in WNBA history

Thank you Lauren Jackson for everything you've done for Australia, overseas and in the WNBA as well. Thanks for being one of the first groups of international players to come play in the league. It was simply magic to see you play and I hope you will get to see how Seattle will become in the future thanks to your legacy.

Follow Aneela Khan on Twitter @WHoopsBlogger