Women's Watch: Storm honors one of WNBA's all-time greats
What Hakeem Olajuwon, Dirk Nowitzki and Toni Kukoc are to the NBA, Lauren Jackson is to the WNBA.
Olajuwon, Nowitzki and Kukoc - from Nigeria, Germany and Croatia, respectively - are three of the most talented foreign-born basketball players to leave their mark on the NBA.
Jackson, an Australian, is by far No. 1 in the WNBA.
To recognize that, the Seattle Storm, Jackson's only WNBA team for her 12-year career, retired her No. 15 jersey Friday night before a game against the Washington Mystics.
Jackson, a versatile 6-foot-5 forward and the No. 1 pick of the 2001 draft, was a seven-time WNBA all-star, a three-time scoring champion, the league most valuable player and defensive player of the year and a two-time champion with the Storm.
"In Storm history, absolutely (Jackson is the best)," said Jackson's longtime Storm teammate Sue Bird, also considered one of the best players in WNBA history. "In the WNBA, each player, each team, it's hard to argue, but in my mind, her and (Phoenix Mercury star) Diana (Taurasi) are the best to play.
"I get it, there are other players involved, but if you want to say top-two to top-five, she's definitely the best."
Jackson, who now lives in Australia, was overwhelmed as she returned to Seattle ahead of Friday's jersey retirement. It was the first time she had been back in the city since 2012, her last year in the WNBA.
"I didn't realize how much I would be flooded with emotion," she said. "At the airport yesterday, it kind of hit me at once. The memories, playing at Key Arena, it's actually quite overwhelming. I didn't realize how much I missed it. Being back here is almost too much.
"The support that I've had from America, the fans and the people over here has been amazing. I think that's the one thing that I'll always take with me and never forget, how loyal and caring the fans are about the players."
Jackson had some tough seasons in the WNBA, fighting through multiple injuries to her ankle, back, Achilles, hip and knee.
"Everything that I've been through, the Storm fans have been with me and supported me. They've followed me, and it's been unbelievable, really," she said. "In Australia, we don't have support like that. There are a few people, but not in the numbers that I get from here.
"That's something that I think is beautiful."
Jackson established a loyal following early. She is the daughter of two popular Australian national-team players - father, Gary, and mother, Maree, who wore No. 15 and was Jackson's inspiration for her number selection.
By age 16, Jackson was a member of the Australian national team herself. She played on four Olympic teams from 2000 to 2012.
"I had a really great career here and I'm so thankful that I got the opportunity to compete in America for so long," Jackson said. "I think that because America is so important to women's basketball and this league, I always wanted to be the best that I could be here.
"It didn't matter where I was in the world, I always trained harder, put in more hours in the gym, shot more, did everything that I could here in America because I wanted to be the best here, and that drove me.
"I guess that's a testament to this league and how much respect I have for it. Not a day goes by I don't miss being over here and playing. It's kind of sad, actually."
pbabcock@dailyherald.com
• Follow Patricia on Twitter @babcockmcgraw