11 February 2016: Australian basketball legend Lauren Jackson will be officially farewelled by the University of Canberra Capitals tomorrow night, during their game against Perth Lynx.
Jackson's size and athleticism, competitive drive, tenacity, and love of the game saw her become one of the biggest names in international basketball and helped transform the Capitals into a WNBL powerhouse.
The 34-year-old basketball star was released from her contract with the University of Canberra Capitals last month following complications from a chronic knee injury.
"It's heartbreaking to have to say goodbye to the Capitals, which has been my home team for most of my career and to the fans who have supported me all these years," Jackson said. "Overall, I am proud of my contribution to the team throughout the years and I wish the program all the best into the future."
University of Canberra Capitals coach and mentor Carrie Graf said seeing Jackson leave marked the end of an era for the team.
"Lauren has simply been iconic to women's basketball. Not just here in Canberra with the Capitals, but around the world too. Her star-playing influence has been instrumental in the program's success over many years. She leaves a great legacy of winning," Graf said.
Jackson played 172 games in the WNBL, including 113 for the University of Canberra Capitals. She won six WNBL championships, including five with the UC Capitals, won the regular season and grand final MVP awards four times each. She also made six all-star game appearances.
In addition to her achievements in the domestic league, Jackson similarly dominated her rivals in the elite WNBA, where she won two championships with the Seattle Storm, three MVP awards and made the all-star team on seven occasions. She has also won three Euro-League championships, two Russian championships and one Spanish championship.
Jackson has also achieved significant success with the national team, the Australian Opals, winning three Olympic silver medals, one Olympic bronze, one World Championship gold, two World Championship bronze medals and one Commonwealth Games gold medal. She was also the flag bearer for the Australian Olympic Team at 2012 London Olympics.
As a teenager Jackson began her WNBL career playing for the now-defunct AIS team in 1997. Before she turned 18, she had already led AIS to the 1998/99 championship along with a Most Valuable Player award and Rookie of the Year.
After she graduated from the AIS, Jackson was pursued by teams across the country before choosing to remain in the nation's capital and suit up for the UC Capitals.
"I chose to play for the Capitals because I really admired Carrie Graf's vision as a coach for the team and it was still close to my family home in Albury," she said.
Leading the UC Capitals to four consecutive grand final appearances and three championships in her first four seasons with the team, Jackson became the face of the WNBL and of Australian basketball globally.
While Jackson's attention shifted to basketball leagues in North America and Europe after the 2003/04 season, she returned to the UC Capitals for the 2005/06 and 2009/10 championship seasons, also winning the grand final MVP award in both of those seasons.
Jackson was to re-join the UC Capitals full-time at the beginning of the 2014/15 WNBL season, although injuries hampered her homecoming.